SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

David Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will seek agreement to secure the use of seized funds representing proceeds of crime to reward good working practices in the Crown Prosecution Service.

Harriet Harman: The 2004 Spending Review, provided for a new scheme to incentivise criminal justice agencies to recover from criminals the proceeds of their crimes. The Crown Prosecution Service is working with officials from the Serious Fraud Office, the Customs and Excise Prosecution Office, the Home Office the Department for Constitutional Affairs and other partners in the criminal justice system to develop such an incentivisation scheme, for agreement with HM Treasury, to be funded from assets recovered from the enforcement of successful confiscation orders, cash forfeitures and civil recovery.
	Full details are under consideration but have not yet been agreed. It is proposed that the new scheme will become operative from April 2006.
	The proposed scheme will encourage best practice and incentivise improved performance by all agencies involved in confiscation, cash seizure and civil recovery, to benefit from recovered assets. It should ensure that more criminals are deprived of the benefit they have obtained from criminal conduct.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Solicitor-General whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act.

Harriet Harman: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in The Law Officers' Departments under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Solicitor-General how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years.

Harriet Harman: In accordance with their selection policies and disposal schedules, the Law Officers' Departments have destroyed the following number of files in each of the last five years:
	
		Treasury Solicitor
		
			  Number of Files Destroyed 
		
		
			 2000 13,347 
			 2001 11,154 
			 2002 8,857 
			 2003 9,630 
			 2004 9,246 
		
	
	
		Serious Fraud Office
		
			  Number of Files Destroyed 
		
		
			 2000 8 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 60 
			 2004 3 
		
	
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate was created as a result of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Act 2000. In accordance with its selection policies and disposal schedules the Department has yet to destroy any registered files.
	Crown Prosecution Service
	The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers
	The information cannot be obtained from existing sources (the software does not enable the destruction of files to be tracked).

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Solicitor-General what changes have been promulgated in each of the past five years to the guidelines or other criteria for the retention or destruction of departmental files.

Harriet Harman: Since 1999, the Law Officers' Departments between them have produced at least two schedules for the disposal of records which are specific to its administrative activities. They also disposes of their records in accordance with over 20 guidance notes produced by the National Archives (TNA) over the last five years, covering disposal schedules, managing records in the electronic environment, as well as overarching records management guidance. Further details of this guidance can be found on TNA's website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/advice.

Invoice Payments

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Solicitor-General what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to her Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if she will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it.

Harriet Harman: During the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, the Law Officers' Departments paid supplier invoices, on average, as shown in the table. The table also shows, for the same period, the percentage of undisputed invoices which the Departments each paid within 30 days and the percentage which remained unpaid after 90 days, where these figures are available. Where these figures are not held centrally, data could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The Government are committed to improving the payment culture in the United Kingdom in order to create a fair and stable environment for business transactions. The Law Officers' Departments support this policy and are committed to paying all invoices in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such conditions exist and the invoice is not in dispute, within thirty days of receipt of the goods or services or presentation of a valid invoice.
	
		Law Officers' Departments—Payment of Invoices for the 12 months 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004
		
			 Department Average length of time between the date of invoice and payment Percentage paid within 30 days of the date of issue or within contractual terms Percentage remaining after 90 days 
		
		
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department(5507180001)— Figures are not kept on the average length of time taken to make payments 92.62 0.61 
			 
			 Crown Prosecution Service(5507180002)— 28 days (5507180003)80 (5507180003)7 
			 Serious Fraud Office Figures are not kept on the average length of time taken to make payments 92.3 Figures are not kept on the length of time invoices are unpaid longer than 90 days 
		
	
	(5507180001) includes figures for the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate; the figures do not include payments for Treasury Solicitor's Department disbursements associated with legal cases as these can be subject to further negotiation. However these payments are monitored internally to ensure delay is as low as possible
	(5507180002) figures for the Crown Prosecution Service include payments for the services of lawyer agents in the magistrates' courts and external advocates in the Crown Court; they do not include payment of claims for travel and subsistence costs for Witness attendance at court.
	(5507180003) figures refer to undisputed invoices

Travel Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Solicitor-General what the total travel costs to her Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials for each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: Since 1999, the Government publishes, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Copies of the list are available in the Library of the House.
	The Law Officers do not retain any Special Advisers.
	Details of the cost of the Law Officers' domestic travel are not held separately from that incurred by officials of the Treasury Solicitors' Department and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total expenditure on travel for each year since 1997 in respect of the Law Officers' Departments is shown in the tables.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code.
	
		Treasury Solicitors Department including the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate(5507180004) -- £
		
			  Cost per annum 
		
		
			 1998–99 310,600 
			 1999–2000 248,900 
			 2000–01 190,500 
			 2001–02 168,800 
			 2002–03 293,900 
			 2003–04 319,400 
		
	
	(5507180004) Includes travel by the Law Officers and officials.
	
		Crown Prosecution Service -- £
		
			  Cost per annum 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,654,300 
			 1998–99 2,739,800 
			 1999–2000 3,138,000 
			 2000–01 3,430,200 
			 2001–02 4,255,500 
			 2002–03 4,543,200 
			 2003–04 4,819,600 
		
	
	
		Serious Fraud Office -- £
		
			  Cost per annum 
		
		
			 1997–98 333,000 
			 1998–98 243,000 
			 1999–2000 324,000 
			 2000–01 467,000 
			 2001–02 569,000 
			 2002–03 493,000 
			 2003–04 527,000

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Leader of the House what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Privy Council Office (PCO) provides the administrative support for the Leader of the House. PCO continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with the Public Records Act. Documents which are no longer required are destroyed by shredding or other means. This policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Leader of the House what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Privy Council Office (PCO) provides the administrative support for the Leader of the House. PCO's policy is to save e-mails which form part of the official record for as long as business needs require. E-mails are then stored in accordance with record management procedures. Further e-mail guidance is available at the National Archive website, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronic records/advice/pdf/managingemails.pdf.
	E-mails which are no longer required for business reasons are deleted. This policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 his special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Peter Hain: None.

WALES

Ministerial Visits

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what ministerial visits are planned for each Minister in his Department in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House of Commons.

Public Bodies (Abolition)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list National Assembly for Wales sponsored public bodies that may be abolished by (a) decision of the Assembly, (b) primary legislation in the United Kingdom Parliament and (c) revocation of the Royal Charter.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	(a) The bodies listed in Schedule 4 Part 1 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 together with bodies created since devolution by the Assembly under its own powers may be abolished by decision of the Assembly.
	(b) All Assembly sponsored public bodies, including those covered by (a) above and (c) below, may be abolished by primary legislation in the UK Parliament. In the case of bodies set up by Royal Charter, the legislation would provide for its revocation.
	(c) All bodies set up by Royal Charter may be abolished by revocation of that charter.

Working Time Regulations

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials working in ministerial private offices in the Department have worked more than a 48 hour week at any time in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of those had signed a waiver under working time regulations; and what percentage these figures represented of the total in each case.

Peter Hain: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the protection of a limit of an average of 48 hours a week working time. This is not an absolute cap of 48 hours in any one week. This average is normally calculated over a 17-week reference period, although this can be longer in certain situations (26 weeks) and can be extended by agreement (up to 52 weeks). Workers may choose to work more than 48 hours per week over this reference period by signing an opt-out agreement, but employers cannot force a worker to sign an opt-out, and workers cannot be subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out.
	The Wales Office has a duty to ensure the health and safety of its staff. No member of staff has worked in excess of the working time regulation (an average of 48 hours a week over a 17-week period).
	One member of private office staff has voluntarily opted out of this regulation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Alvis plc

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was informed of the decision by Alvis Plc to conclude a consultancy agreement with Global Select.

Bill Rammell: The allegations relating to the sale of military equipment to the Indonesians in 1995–96 reported this month in The Guardian newspaper are currently being investigated in the UK and Indonesia. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has to date found no record of being informed of specific agents for the contracts between Alvis and Global Select.

Bhutan

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on insurgency in Bhutan.

Douglas Alexander: There is no recent history of indigenous insurgency in Bhutan. There was unrest in the late 1980s and early 1990s which resulted in violent clashes between Bhutanese security forces and supporters of the largely ethnic Nepali Bhutan People's Party. Up to 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepali origin fled the country and now live in refugee camps in Nepal.
	In December 2003, the Bhutanese army launched a successful campaign against Indian insurgents who were operating out of Bhutan against India.

China

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the detention of Yu Jie, Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua for human rights in China.

Bill Rammell: Yu Jie, Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua were detained on Monday 13 December in Beijing, and were released the following day.
	HMG takes human rights problems in China very seriously. We continue to talk to the Chinese Government about these, including through our bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, the last round of which was held in Beijing on 22 November.

China

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China with respect to the detention without charge of Pastor Zhang Rongliang; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 20 December (Official Report, column 1397W).

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of postage was for official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Jack Straw: In 2003 and 2004, the cost of postage for official departmental Christmas cards sent out by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers was £232.37 and £94.50 respectively.
	In respect of the rest of the FCO, including its overseas Posts, to provide this information could be provided only disproportionate cost.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many departmental staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards;
	(2)  how many hours of staff time were taken up in preparation of Christmas cards in 2004.

Jack Straw: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official Christmas cards were sent out by his Department in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Jack Straw: Approximately 2,000 cards were sent out by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers in 2003; and fewer than 1,000 in 2004.
	In respect of the rest of the FCO, including its overseas posts, this information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of purchasing official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Jack Straw: In 2003 and 2004, the cost of official departmental Christmas cards sent out by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers was £1,553 and £1,268 respectively.
	In respect of the rest of the FCO including its overseas posts, this information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of official departmental Christmas cards included a contribution to charity in their cost; and which charities benefited from such a contribution.

Jack Straw: All official Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Christmas cards include a contribution to charity.
	In 2003 over £15,000 (the profit generated from the sale of official FCO cards) was donated to the FCO Welfare Fund and the Diplomatic Families Association Emergency and Welfare Fund. Figures are not yet available for 2004.
	UNICEF also benefited from my own specially-printed Christmas cards (£218.50 in 2003 and £207 in 2004).

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Colombia on the killings of (a) Villapon Vega, (b) Antenor Martinez, (c) Mayerli Culnma, (d) Nahoralba Culma and (e) Elkin Conde; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have raised the specific cases the honourable Member refers to with the Government of Colombia and await their reply. We will continue to monitor these and other human rights cases that we regularly draw to their attention.
	Human rights lie at the heart of our policy towards Colombia. We regularly urge the Colombian Government to implement outstanding recommendations from the annual reports of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We are working with them and other partners, including the EU, UN and civil society, to help bring about an improvement in Colombia's human rights situation. As part of this process I intend travelling to Colombia early in 2005 for a key meeting of international support to Colombia. This meeting will assess progress on human rights since the London meeting that we hosted in July 2003.

Common Travel Area

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of the Irish Republic about the future of the common travel area with reference to the requirement for passport or other identification to be shown at Dublin airport by passengers arriving from London's airports; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: None.

Conferences

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many conferences were (a) attended by officials from his Department, (b) cancelled by and (c) facilitated by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the (i) cost to the Department and (ii) location was in each case.

Bill Rammell: The details of conferences as requested are not held centrally within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Convention on the Future of Europe

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to insert references to the Minority Report of the Convention on the Future of Europe when official government publications refer in detail to the activities of the Convention; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: HMG's views on the minority report were set out by my right hon Friend the Prime Minister in his statement to the House on 23 June 2003 Official Report, column 707. The report will be referred to in official government publications referring to the activities of the Convention if that is appropriate in the circumstances.

Darfur

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the Government to increase international monitoring of the security situation in Darfur.

Chris Mullin: On 20 October, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council agreed to expand its monitoring mission in Darfur from less than 500 to more than 3,000 personnel. We fully support this decision. We have committed over £14 million to the African Union for this purpose, from which we have provided significant logistical support, including 143 vehicles. We have also provided military planning expertise to the AU in Addis Ababa and seconded a UK observer to the mission. The UK was also instrumental in securing €92 million in funding from the EU.

Decade of Roma Inclusion

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to prepare for the launch in the UK in 2005 of the European Union Decade of Roma Inclusion.

Denis MacShane: The UK is participating actively in the programme of the Decade of Roma Inclusion which was established by eight Central and Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Slovakia).
	The Government of Hungary hosts its secretariat. An International Steering Committee made up of government representatives, Roma representatives from each participating country, international donors, and other international organisations is in charge of its planning.
	The Roma Education Fund to which the Government are planning to contribute £200,000 will be a major part of the programme. There are no current plans for a formal launch by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of this programme.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the role of the commander of the 8th military region in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the current instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The 8th Military Region, like others, has suffered from problems with command and control, and troop discipline. This has led to instability in the region. The UK has continued to press for army integration so the different elements of the transitional Government can work together in a concerted effort to provide peace and security. A new commander of the 8th Military Region, General Amisi, has just been appointed. We are therefore not yet in a position to assess his role in the current situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of Bizima Karaha's recent reports of inclusion of Interahamwe troops in the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo; what discussions on this (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of (A) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (B) Rwanda; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Following its signature of the Pretoria Agreement, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced that the Ex-FAR/Interahamwe were no longer welcome on its territory. Several thousand still remain. There are reports that Ex-FAR/lnterahamwe forces are formally part of the DRC armed forces but we have no evidence to substantiate this.
	We have regularly reminded the DRC Government of the need to deal with the problem of the Ex-FAR/Interahamwe.
	We frequently discuss the need for international action to disarm Ex-FAR/Interahamwe at all levels with the Rwandan Government.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the numbers, (b) the aim and (c) the activities of the Congolese Rally for Democracy; how these have changed since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: It is not possible to give an accurate indication of the numbers of political and military members of the four movements that emerged from the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD).
	The largest group, the RCD-Goma, forms part of the Transitional Government, and its President is one of the DRC's four vice-presidents. They have affirmed their commitment to holding elections in the DRC in 2005. So have two of the other factions, the RCD-N and RCD-ML.
	The RCD have now registered as a political party. Their troops are now part of the DRC armed forces.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the number and (b) the activities of Rwandan Hutu rebel forces in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Ex-FAR/Interahamwe are a well-armed force of several thousand. They continue to pose a threat to the security and stability of western Rwanda and menace civilian populations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) command structure and (b) ethnic makeup of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The command structure of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo has two central authorities and eleven military regions. While there has been integration at the national and regional headquarter level, army integration has yet to get fully underway.
	There are over 400 different ethnic groups within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of these groups are represented in the armed forces.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the role of (a) Major Kasongo and (b) Colonel Jules Mutebutsi in the current situation in South Kivu; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: As far as we are aware, neither Major Kasongo nor Colonel Jules Mutebutsi, who has been detained in Rwanda, have any identifiable role in the current situation in South Kivu.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on stability of the South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo of the replacement of General Nabiolwa with General Mbuza Mabe; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: South Kivu continues to be unstable and troops of the 10th Military Region continue to be accused of abuses against the civilian population. We continue to press the Transitional Government for progress on Security Sector Reform.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of claims by General Laurent Nkunda of atrocities being committed against the Banyamulenge community in Bukavu, South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: There have been many acts of violence committed in South Kivu, including against Banyamulenge communities. The UN Peacekeeping Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) found no evidence of a systematic campaign against the Banyamulenge as Nkunda alleged in June 2004. We are working with groups in South Kivu to promote reconciliation among communities and condemn any attempts to fuel ethnic tensions.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the planned deployment of 10,000 members of the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; what assessment his Department has made of the impact such a deployment may have on the stability of the region as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Transitional Government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking to assert its authority over the whole of its territory. It has announced that further troops are to be sent to North Kivu to help deal with the problem of the Ex-FAR/Interaham we.
	The deployment of large numbers of troops into a historically troubled area will require careful handling by the DRC authorities to avoid further fighting between the various factions of the DRC armed forces.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of refurbishments in his Department was in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Bill Rammell: The Department has spent the following sums on refurbishment since 1997:
	
		
			  (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.2 
			 1998–99 4.7 
			 1999–2000 22.5 
			 2000–01 31.2 
			 2001–02 10.1 
			 2002–03 8.9 
			 2003–04 6.2 
			 2004–05(5507180005) 5.7 
			 2005–06(5507180006) 9.1 
		
	
	(5507180005) expenditure to date
	(5507180006) planned expenditure
	The figures shown cover refurbishment at home and overseas. The significantly higher costs incurred in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 include the refurbishment of the Old Admiralty Building.

Estonian/Russian Border

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards disputed areas of the Estonian/Russian border.

Denis MacShane: The UK, along with EU partners, looks forward to the early signature and ratification of the border agreement agreed between Russia and Estonia.

EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December, Official Report, column 1065, on the EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service, what the highest classification of information supplied by the UK Government to the Situation Centre is; which departments have supplied such information; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: UK information is released to the Situation Centre on a strict need-to-know basis at classifications up to and including SECRET. The Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre have all provided information.

EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1065W, on EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Services, what analyses and risk assessments the EU Situation Centre has produced; what the security classification is of each; who is responsible for making decisions about the work undertaken by the Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The EU Situation Centre (SitCen) has produced a range of analyses on issues of interest identified within the European Security Strategy. This includes risk assessments for EU-led crisis management operations, strategic counter-terrorism analysis and assessments of WMD proliferation. The reporting is classified according to its content and the original classification of member states' inputs. This is in line with EU security regulations. The Situation Centre's scheduled work programme is approved by all member states through the rotating EU Presidency. Additionally, any member state is at liberty to request SitCen reporting on topics of common EU interest.

EU/Israel Association

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will press the EU to take appropriate measures under Article 79 of the EU/Israel Association Agreement to enforce the human rights conditions of the Agreement.

Denis MacShane: We do not plan to call for the EU to take appropriate measures under Article 79 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
	The Government believes that as a friend of Israel and the Palestinians we can best exert influence and encourage both sides to take the steps needed for progress through close engagement. We, and our EU partners, regularly call on both sides to meet their roadmap commitments (for the Palestinians this includes taking effective action against terrorism and for the Israelis a freeze on all settlement activity and the easing of restrictions on the movement of persons and goods). We do not believe, however, that punitive measures would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Memorandum on the EU Constitutional Treaty, when legal primacy of European law was accepted by the UK Parliament.

Denis MacShane: 17 October 1972.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the articles in the draft European constitution in which the text differs from the equivalent articles that formed part of previous treaties.

Denis MacShane: Following the commitment made to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1456W, the Government will shortly be publishing an analysis of the EU constitutional treaty, indicating which parts of the constitution correspond to provisions in the existing treaties and which parts are new.

European Convention

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards the European Convention's Minority Report, submitted by the Convention President alongside the Convention draft; and whether Members of the UK delegation raised the issues contained therein with fellow representatives.

Denis MacShane: HMG's views on the minority report were set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement to the House on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 707. The report will be referred to in official government publications referring to the activities of the Convention if that is appropriate in the circumstances.

European Convention

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what declarations made by UK representatives to the Convention on the future of Europe have been appended to the European Convention; and what legal status they will have should the Convention be ratified.

Denis MacShane: The work of the Convention on the Future of Europe was the starting point for negotiations on a Constitutional Treaty between member states within the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The Final Act of the IGC, signed at the same time as the Constitutional Treaty, includes declarations made by participants in the IGC in relation to the Constitutional Treaty. Such declarations may be relevant to the interpretation and application of the Treaty. This does not apply to statements or declarations made by Members of the Convention. These are not included in the Final Act.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the activities to raise awareness of the EU that his Department is undertaking; and who the participants are.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1269–270W.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to detail the costs of EU membership in future publications on the benefits of such membership; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does indeed detail the costs and obligations, as well as the benefits, of EU membership in its publications (for example, in the Guide to the European Union deposited in the Library of the House on 1 November. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to communicating accurately and objectively the facts about Britain's EU membership to the public.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define his Department's interpretation of the term federal in relation to EU matters.

Denis MacShane: "Federal" is not a word the Department uses in relation to EU matters. Nor is the word used in the EU constitutional treaty.

Expatriate Communities

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries he estimates to have the 20 largest expatriate communities of UK citizens; and how many UK citizens he estimates live in each.

Chris Mullin: The following estimated figures are taken from the 2003–04 Consular Annual Returns from overseas posts. There is no requirement for UK citizens to register with British missions overseas and those that have represent only a small fraction of the estimated numbers provided in the list.
	
		
			 Country Estimated British Community 2003–04 
		
		
			 Canada 3,200,000 
			 Australia 2,000,000 
			 South Africa 820,000 
			 USA 700,000 
			 Spain 640,500 
			 New Zealand 450,000 
			 Irish Republic 300,000 
			 France 300,000 
			 Pakistan 205,000 
			 Germany 156,106 
			 United Arab Emirates 107,437 
			 Netherlands 70,000 
			 Italy 64,022 
			 Cyprus 60,000 
			 Israel 35,000 
			 Portugal 32,207 
			 Thailand 30,000 
			 India 28,800 
			 Greece 27,650 
			 Belgium 27,000

Foreign Dignitaries (Gifts)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) amount spent, (b) name of the recipient and (c) item provided in respect of gifts for foreign dignitaries since 1997.

Jack Straw: This information is not held centrally within my Department, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Very few such gifts are in any event made.

General Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 13 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The information is as follows:
	Outcome of the 13 December 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, John Grant (UK Permanent Representative to the EU) and I represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on 13 December.
	Conclusions were agreed on: ESDP, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Great Lakes, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Colombia and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
	General Affairs Session
	Preparation for the 17 December European Council
	The Council examined draft conclusions prepared by the Presidency for the European Council to be held in Brussels on 16–17 December, dealing in particular with the conclusion of membership negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania and the opening of negotiations with Turkey and Croatia. Work on the draft conclusions is likely to continue in the run-up to the European Council;
	The main items that the European Council is due to discuss are as follows:
	EU enlargement: decisions on the conclusion of membership negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania and on the opening of negotiations with Turkey and Croatia.
	Terrorism: review of progress in the fight against terrorism;
	EU financial framework for 2007–13: decision on principles and guidelines for further work aimed at enabling agreement on the new financial framework and related issues, including the system of own resources for the financing of the EU budget;
	Justice and home affairs: EU Drugs Strategy 2005–2012;
	External relations: a number of issues, including the Middle East Peace Process and Ukraine.
	Annual Programme of the Council (2005)
	The Council took note of the presentation by the incoming Luxembourg and United Kingdom presidencies of a draft operational programme of the Council for 2005. The document is the result of a negotiation between both countries and therefore reflects the UK's views, but is not a definitive statement of what the UK will take forward in the second half of the year. Rather it is intended as a flexible menu of issues likely to be pursued next year and will form the basis of discussions with UK stakeholders and others as the UK Presidency programme is refined. It was agreed without discussion. Copies will be made available in the Library of the House.
	External Relations Session
	Iran
	The Council gave its full support for the negotiating process, which started on 13 December, on a long-term arrangement with Iran. This was in light of the IAEA's confirmation of full suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities by Tehran. The EU will resume negotiations with Iran on a draft Trade and Cooperation Agreement. As a member of the E3 (UK, Germany and France) the Government played a major part in negotiating Iran's decision to suspend fully all enrichment related and reprocessing activities. It welcomes the continued negotiations for long-term arrangements.
	Ukraine
	Over lunch, Ministers gave their full support to the work of High Representative Solana and the Lithuanian and Polish Presidents. The Council welcomed the political agreement reached in Ukraine on 8 December that together with the Supreme Court's ruling on 3 December paved the way for a free and fair rerun of the second round of presidential elections. The EU will contribute substantially to the OSCE international election observation mission. There will be a declaration at the European Council. The Government are pleased that the situation in Ukraine remains peaceful and that a solution was reached within Ukraine's legal framework. As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the House on 29 November, Official Report, column 359, the Government look forward to an outcome to the elections that reflects the will of the Ukrainian people.
	China Arms Embargo
	Over lunch, Ministers held an exchange of views concerning the EU arms embargo against China, following the 8 December EU-China Summit at which the EU had confirmed its political will to continue to work towards lifting the embargo.
	The Government support the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU arms embargo on China. This review is on-going—it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the 22 November GAERC. The Government do not wish to exclude any options for the review, nor to pre-empt the conclusion of the review. The Government continue to implement the arms embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–41.
	Middle East Peace Process
	The Presidency noted that Ministers would return to the subject at the European Council. A Declaration will be agreed.
	ENP
	Ministers discussed the action plans set up within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) for Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Ukraine and Tunisia. The Council endorsed these seven action plans, which will now be forwarded to the relevant association or co-operation councils for implementation. Ukraine's action plan will be launched as soon as possible following the completion of free and fair presidential elections. The Government agree with this course of action.
	Great Lakes
	The Commission said Commissioner Michel would be visiting the region on 15–19 December. The agreed Conclusions expressed the Council's deep concern about reports of military operations by Rwandan armed forces in the DRC and condemned any threat to and violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. The Council underlined the importance of addressing the key problem of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe, which was undermining peace and security in the region and constituted a source of instability and a threat to the local population as well as an impediment to good neighbourly relations.
	The Council stressed the importance of the continued transition process in the DRC, especially in the preparation of elections and in the implementation of the necessary reforms. It called upon all countries of the region to give the transition in the DRC all their support. The Government welcome the agreed conclusions. It is important that the international community speaks with one voice to dissuade Rwanda from any action contrary to international law. The current crisis highlights the need to resolve the problem of the ex-FAR/Interahamwe to prevent further crises, address Rwandan security concerns and prevent further human rights abuses in DRC.
	Sudan
	The Presidency drew attention to the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Darfur and reminded the Council that pressure needed to be maintained on all parties, both to improve the security situation and to facilitate the rapid conclusion of the North/South process. Conclusions were agreed. These noted the latest report of the UN Secretary-General to the UN Security Council and its concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Darfur. The Council condemns attacks and other ceasefire violations by all parties in the Darfur conflict and urges them to respect the ceasefire agreements. The Council recalls its previous conclusions and underlines that the EU will continue to monitor the situation in Darfur and will consider to take appropriate measures which could include sanctions, against the Government of Sudan as well as the rebel groups, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1556 and 1564, if no tangible progress is achieved in this respect.
	The Government remain gravely concerned by the latest report by the Secretary-General on Darfur. It highlights the need for continued EU political pressure on all the parties to abide by the two Abuja Protocols; it also underlines the need for increased logistical, technical and financial assistance to the AU, and for the AU to expedite deployment of its civilian police component. It welcomes the UN Workplan for 2005 for $1.5 billion for the whole of Sudan. The Government welcome any analysis on sanctions, should they become necessary.
	AOB—EU/Africa Dialogue
	The Council took note of a presentation by Portuguese Foreign Minster Monteiro on the question of a second Africa-Europe Summit (after the April 2000 Cairo Summit), following the exchange of views on that subject at the EU-African Union Ministerial Troika meeting in Addis Ababa on 6 December. The President noted that the issue would be further discussed under the incoming Luxembourg Presidency.
	AOB—Libya
	Italian Foreign Minister Fini brought to the Council's attention that in the context of an immigration mission to Libya, the Libyan authorities were willing to co-operate with the EU authorities. The Italians requested the use of the AENEAS programme (EU migration funding) to help the Libyans. The Presidency took note. The Government welcome the cooperation between Italy and Libya and Italy's request to extend the AENEAS programme to Libya.
	AOB— Guinea Bissau
	The Council heard an intervention by Portuguese Foreign Minister Monteiro on the situation in Guinea Bissau as well as on the question of the resumption of the budgetary support programme. On the latter issue, the Commission reaffirmed its readiness to explore possible solutions in order to enable aid to be resumed. The Government currently provide multilateral support through the UN, EU and international financial institutions.

Gibraltar

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effects of the application of Justice and Home Affairs Title VI measures on Gibraltar's (a) constabulary, (b) local government powers and (c) armed forces facilities following the entry into force of the EU constitution.

Denis MacShane: Under the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, Gibraltar will be in the same position as the UK as regards the application of measures which can at present be adopted under Title VI of the TEU (i.e. measures on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters). This was fully discussed with the Government of Gibraltar during the Intergovernmental Conference negotiations last year.
	The effect of measures adopted under the Constitutional Treaty on Gibraltar's constabulary, local government powers and armed forces facilities will of course depend on the content of the measures in question. But the Government are confident that, as now. the interests of the UK and Gibraltar will be safeguarded.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) the Global Conflict Prevention Pool and (b) the Africa Pool.

Bill Rammell: A major external Evaluation of the Pools by Bradford University's Department of Peace Studies, completed in March 2004, concluded that, although it is too soon to make an accurate assessment of impact, the Pools are funding worthwhile activities that make positive contributions to effective conflict prevention, and that the progress achieved through the Pools' mechanisms is significant enough to justify their continuation.
	The evaluation also identified a number of areas where there appeared to be room for improvement. The Government has published a response to these issues. An overall assessment of the Pool's performance against their Spending Round 02 Public Service Agreement target was laid before Parliament on 14 December 2004 and is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ConflictPreventionPoolEvaluation.pdf

Great Lakes Region

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Amnesty International report "Protecting their rights: Rwandese Refugees in the Great Lakes Region"; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We note with interest Amnesty International's report published on 15 December. It makes a number of recommendations which we will study carefully.

Guantanamo Bay

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings his Department has held with US officials to discuss the status of British nationals at Guantanamo Bay since 2002.

Chris Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its missions in the US have a continuing programme of meetings with various US Government departments to discuss the status of British nationals. Among other issues, these meetings consider individual consular cases; the detainees at Guantanamo Bay; and changes to US immigration practice (such as biometrics and the US Visa Waiver Programme) that affect all British visitors to the USA.

Gym Provision

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many gyms are available to staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: There are two gyms available for staff use on the UK Estate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. One in London, and one at Hanslope Park. The cost of provision of this service, with the exception of utility costs, is wholly met from subscriptions charged to the users. Utilities for the gym areas are not currently separately metered, and it is therefore not possible to provide these costs.
	The Overseas Foreign and Commonwealth Office locations all have the capability to make their own arrangements for provision of gym facilities. Due to the number of locations, the details for the overseas Estate could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Holy See

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the requirements for candidates sought as successor ambassador to the Holy See; and whether declared religion will be a factor.

Denis MacShane: The successful candidate will possess the qualities we expect from a Head of Mission. Heads of Mission to the Holy See are appointed on merit and not on the basis of their religious beliefs.

Holy See

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to vary the (a) scale and (b) delivery of UK representation to the Holy See; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: As announced in the written statement by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, we expect to widen the pool of potential candidates as Head of Mission to beyond the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when we look for a potential successor to the present incumbent next summer. We are currently in the process of determining the level and form of staffing necessary to preserve a viable and effective embassy which meets our requirements. There is no question, however, of closing down our embassy to the Holy See.

Holy See

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Papal Nuncio prior to decisions being made to alter the UK's arrangements for diplomatic representation to the Holy See; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Holy See has been kept informed of our proposals for future diplomatic representation as they have developed, through contacts with our embassy to the Holy See and the Papal Nuncio in London.

Indonesia (Defence Sales)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was given by (a) his Department, (b) the local diplomatic mission in Indonesia and (c) the commercial officer in Indonesia, to Alvis plc and Alvis Ltd. about the use of agents in connection with the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia.

Bill Rammell: The allegations relating to the sale of military equipment to the Indonesians in 1995–06 reported this month in The Guardian newspaper are currently being investigated in the UK and Indonesia. It would not be appropriate to comment on these investigations at this stage. Currently, no records have been found of any discussions with Alvis plc or Alvis Ltd. on agents either by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or by the embassy in Jakarta.

Indonesia (Defence Sales)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was informed of the decision by BAE Systems to use PTSK as agents in connection with the sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia.

Bill Rammell: We have found no documents indicating who BAE Systems used as their agents in connection with the sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia. We are however looking into this matter further.

Indonesia (Defence Sales)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was informed of the decision by Alvis to use (a) PT Truba and (b) PTSK as agents in connection with the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia.

Bill Rammell: The allegations relating to the sale of Scorpion tanks to the Indonesians in 1995–96 reported this month in The Guardian newspaper are currently being investigated in the UK and Indonesia. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has to date found no record of its being informed of specific agents for the contracts between Alvis and the Indonesian Government.

Iraq

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civilians have been killed as a result of paramilitary action by insurgents in Iraqi since April 2002.

Bill Rammell: We have no way of reliably estimating the total number of Iraqi civilians killed by military or terrorist action. Unlike the Multi-National Force, the insurgents continue to deliberately target the Iraqi civilian population and cause damage to the country's infrastructure. Reports show that some 35 people, many of them children, were killed in one attack alone on 30 September, when co-ordinated bombs were detonated near a water treatment plant in Baghdad. The key to improving the lives of the Iraqi people will be to put down the insurgency.

Iraq

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to withdraw British troops from Iraq under the terms of UN Security Resolution No. 1546.

Bill Rammell: The UK is committed to Iraq until the country is stabilised and the Iraqis themselves are able to take full responsibility for their own security. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, unanimously adopted on 8 June 2004, mandates the presence of the multinational force, of which the UK forms part, to be reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or 12 months from the date of the Resolution. The mandate shall expire upon the completion of the political process and will be terminated earlier if requested by the Government of Iraq.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of known injuries to Iraqi civilians which have been caused by the actions of multinational forces since 1 May 2003.

Bill Rammell: We have no reliable means of ascertaining the number of Iraqi civilians injured by military or terrorist action since 1 May 2003. However, the Iraqi Minister of Health reported on 29 October that his Ministry's figures, based on records from some 180 hospitals, show that between 5 April 2004 and 5 October 2004 15,517 Iraqi civilians were injured.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Iraqis killed by Saddam Hussein's regime in the period from 1 July 2001 to 19 March 2003, (b) Iraqi civilians killed in the period 20 March 2003 to 30 June and (c) Iraqi civilians killed in the period 1 July to 13 December.

Bill Rammell: On 22 July 2003 the United Nations Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that it was estimated that over the past three decades at least 290,000 Iraqis had disappeared in Iraq. The Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons has registered over 1.3 million missing Iraqis. Some 270 mass graves have so far been reported from that period. There are no reliable or comprehensive figures for Iraqi civilian casualties for the periods requested. The Iraqi Minister of Health stated on 29 October 2004 that his Ministry's figures, based on records from some 180 hospitals, show that between 5 April 2004 and 5 October 2004, 3,853 Iraqi civilians were killed.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from his United States counterpart in respect of the hunger strike by Saddam Hussein.

Bill Rammell: A spokesman for the US military in Iraq has given an unequivocal denial of these allegations on behalf of the US authorities. Saddam Hussein is in the legal custody of the Iraqi authorities and the physical custody of the US authorities. Regular access is granted to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

IT Projects

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of over-run and (d) time of over-run.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has undertaken over a hundred IT projects since 1997, ranging in cost from a few thousand pounds to several millions, and in time from a few weeks to several years. There is no central record of historical cost/time information from which we could extract this information. Therefore we could not answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost. The FCO annual departmental report gives details of our major IT projects.

Kosovo

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to combat organised crime in Kosovo.

Denis MacShane: The UK has taken a number of steps to fight organised crime in Kosovo, and in the Western Balkans region as a whole. The UK works closely with governments in the region, the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and other international organisations to combat this threat.
	Since 2002 we have committed over 2.4 million to initiatives in this field throughout the region. We have provided expertise and equipment to increase the effectiveness of the Kosovo Organised Crime Unit and are currently helping UNMIK to set up a financial intelligence unit to combat money laundering in Kosovo.
	The UK has provided around 99 officers to UNMIK to assist with law enforcement there. We also contribute almost 20 per cent. of the funding to the EU's external assistance programme to the Western Balkans (the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) programme. The programme is worth 4.6 billion for the period 200006. Of the 51.5 million allocated for Kosovo for 2004. 6.5 million (12.5 per cent.) is devoted to justice and home affairs issues.

Kosovo

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-operation his Department's officials in Kosovo have with representatives of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.

Denis MacShane: Since the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) disbanded following NATO action in Kosovo in 1999, some of its former members have set up and joined new political parties. These parties have played prominent roles in subsequent governments and continue to do so. British officials in Kosovo continue to engage with representatives of these parties, and all parties that are committed to taking forward progress on standards and working towards a multi-ethnic Kosovo.

Kosovo

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas of Kosovo remain polluted or contaminated as a result of the NATO military action in 1999; what plans there are to remove and remediate this contamination; what resources have been set aside to carry out this clean-up; and if he will make a statement on the future of Kosovo.

Denis MacShane: Data on residual mines and other unexploded ordnance in Kosovo is supplied to us by the United Nations interim administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). At present there are 37 individual dangerous areas left to clear. These areas are mostly in the Dulje Pass close to the Prizren area or along the border with Albania. However, more contaminated areas are likely to be discovered as the population returns to areas which have not been occupied since the conflict.
	Following NATO intervention in Kosovo to avert an immediate and overwhelming humanitarian disaster, the UK was the first country to have de-miners on the ground in Kosovo. The UK Government have spent over 10 million on de-mining activities in the Balkans, over 5 million of which was spent in 19992000 on de-mining in Kosovo. Their de-mining activities have included clearance of unexploded munitions such as cluster bomb submunitions but also cover residual mines and other unexploded ordnance laid (both in set minefields and scattered randomly) during the Serbian-Albanian conflict.
	The UK Government provide funding to the HALO Trust which is one of the agencies involved in helping to clear the remaining mined areas that have been identified. UK Government funding is also provided to a Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) capacity building project with Handicap International through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. UNMIK has an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) management team whose role is one of coordination, planning and management of the ongoing clearance by all the parties involved: KFOR, KPC and NGOs. The UNMIK EOD team is in effect the primary mine clearing authority.
	There will be a formal review in mid 2005 of Kosovo's progress in meeting the standards laid down by the UN (Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan (KSIP)). If Kosovo has made the necessary progress, then a process will begin to determine its final status in accordance with UNSCR 1244 (1999). If progress is insufficient, then there will be another review at a later date.

Maldives

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts about the forthcoming election in the Maldives; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: On 13 December EU Heads of Mission accredited to the Maldives released a statement on the Majlis elections scheduled for 31 December. The statement called for the Government of Maldives to ensure that the elections are free and fair, that those who wish to stand for election are permitted to do so and can campaign freely, that open public debate is an integral part of election campaigns and that state-owned resources are employed even-handedly in a way that does not advantage certain candidates over others. The EU Heads of Mission welcomed the Maldivian Government's invitation to the Commonwealth and South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation to send observer missions.
	I met both the Maldivian ambassador to the UK and the Maldivian Foreign Minister recently to stress these points.

Marta Andreasen

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the maintenance in European Communities' employment of Marta Andreasen.

Denis MacShane: The employment of individuals by EC institutions is a matter for the institutions concerned.

Moldova

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position was taken by the UK at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Sofia on 6 to 7 December on the Russian occupation of part of Moldova; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The UK's position was set out in our statement at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial in Sofia. We want Russia to fulfil commitments made when signing the Adapted Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999. These commitments include the full withdrawal of arms and ammunition from Transnistria, or their destruction in situ, and the withdrawal of Russian forces.
	The full text of the UK's statement is available on the OSCE website at http://www.osce.org/events/mc/bulgaria2004/documents/files/mc_l102435776_e.pdf.

Mozambique

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Mozambique, with particular reference to the Renamo opposition party's claims of election fraud.

Chris Mullin: Counting is continuing in Mozambique and no formal election results have yet been announced. We understand that Renamo's complaints have been passed to the electoral authorities for consideration. We are currently awaiting reports from both the EU's and Commonwealth's elections observers.

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Jack Straw: Expenditure is as follows (only combined figures are available prior to 2001):
	
		
		
			  Expenditure Newspapers Periodicals 
		
		
			 199798 489,895   
			 199899 586,510   
			 19992000 566,067   
			 200001 588,078   
			 200102 590,721 211,393 379,328 
			 200203 608,401 244,838 363,563 
			 200304 500,682 231,973 268,709 
		
	
	A current list of newspaper and periodical titles taken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been placed in the Library of the House. Lists of titles from previous years are not available.

Palestinian Occupied Authority

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in the Palestinian Occupied Authority.

Bill Rammell: We recognise Israel's right to take proportionate action to protect its citizens against the threat of terrorist attack. But it must act in accordance with international law. Excessive use of force, often resulting in civilian casualties, restrictions on freedom of movement and the destruction of Palestinian homes and agricultural land, only serve to fuel Palestinian anger and make a comprehensive settlement more difficult to achieve. We continue to raise our concerns with the Israelis and urge them to cease these practices. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with Israeli Vice Prime Minister Olmert during his visit to the region on 24 November.
	For its part, the Palestinian Authority (PA) also still has much to do to demonstrate its commitment to the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. We continue to urge the PA to take effective action against those who commit acts of terrorism.

Papua New Guinea

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) Australia and (b) other Commonwealth counterparts about the situation in Papua New Guinea; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We maintain regular dialogue on this issue with Australia, via our High Commissions in Port Moresby and Canberra. We discussed Papua New Guinea (PNG) with other Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, at last August's Pacific Islands Forum.
	We will continue to support Australia's major programmes in PNG, especially their Enhanced Cooperation Programme, through timely inward and outward experts' visits, and through EU funding.

Rwanda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent reports of Rwandan (a) backing of and (b) assistance to General Laurent Nkunda; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: There have been allegations of Rwandan backing and assistance for Nkunda but no conclusive proof. The Rwandan Government denies the allegations.

Severance Grants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the cost of the award of severance grants to European Communities' personnel over the last financial year, broken down by (a) reason for severance and (b) number in each category; whether any involved charges of criminal behaviour; and how many involved claims of whistleblowing.

Denis MacShane: This information, given that it concerns employees of the EU institutions, would be held by those institutions. It is not held by the UK Government.

Somalia

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) European Union and (b) United Nations counterparts on the situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are working very closely with our EU partners and the United Nations to set up a Transitional Federal Government for Somalia, acceptable to all factions, which can establish itself in Mogadishu and begin to restore peace and security throughout Somalia. We continue to work closely with our international partners on the delivery of development assistance and humanitarian aid.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Jack Straw: No.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by his Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not make use of 0870 telephone numbers. There is an 0845 number in use. This enables members of the public to call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London from anywhere in the United Kingdom at standard local rates.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not make use of 0870 telephone numbers, nor any other high revenue telephone numbers. There is an 0845 telephone number in use which enables members of the public to call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London from anywhere in the United Kingdom. Calls are charged at standard local rates, and there is no revenue generated for the Government.

Turkey (EU Membership)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Turkey will be required officially to recognise the existence of the Republic of Cyprus before it is granted membership of the European Union.

Denis MacShane: As accession negotiations with Turkey progress, we expect that relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus will undergo a gradual process of normalisation. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have made it clear that a situation in which there are two member states of the EU who do not recognise each other is unthinkable.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the role of the Ugandan Government Communication Director, Mr. Ofwono-Opondo, in the public execution of Geoffrey Lubega; what representations (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have made to (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Ugandan Government concerning this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of the reports of this incident. We understand that the Ugandan Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi directed the Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to investigate it, and the involvement of the Director of Information at the Movement Secretariat and report back to the Ugandan Parliament. Rugunda told Parliament in a statement on 21 September that Opondo had acted properly and in self-defence, and had saved lives by his actions.
	We have urged the Ugandan Government to remain committed to the human rights principles enshrined in the constitution and we will continue to do so.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Ugandan Government regarding President Museveni's policy on social and political problems in Zimbabwe; what assessment he had made of President Museveni's view of the UK's role in Zimbabwe's development; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Our High Commissioner in Kampala discussed President Museveni's visit to Zimbabwe with him on 15 November. He expressed our disappointment at the comments made by the Ugandan President while on his visit.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Ugandan Government regarding reports of payments to members of Parliament in Uganda for their support of the proposed constitutional amendment to remove the two-term presidential limit; what reports he has received of such actions taking place; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are concerned by reports that members of Uganda's Parliament are alleged to have received payments in order to secure their support for proposals to amend the Ugandan constitution.
	Our High Commissioner in Kampala raised our concerns with the Ugandan Government on 1 November. We will continue to urge that the process of political change on which Uganda is embarking should follow the provisions of the constitution, uphold the rule of law and institutions of governance and be free from physical intimidation or financial manipulation.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have made to (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of Uganda regarding reports of public flogging incidents in Uganda, with particular reference to reported incidents involving four opposition Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: None. An internal investigation was undertaken and a report submitted to the Parliament of Uganda, which is now carrying out its own investigation.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) their counterparts in the Commonwealth, (ii) their counterparts in the European Union member states and (iii) members of the European Commission regarding the provision of projects aimed at capacity building in the Ugandan political opposition; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The UK is an active member of the Kampala-based Donor Democracy and Governance Group, which co-ordinates international support for the political transition in Uganda. This includes the US, United Nations Development Programme, Norway and Japan, as well as EU member states and the European Commission.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also currently funding a project to help build capacity in all Uganda's major political parties as they prepare for the 2006 elections.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the culture of political opposition in Uganda of the 1986 ban on political activities; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Since 1986, the no-party Movement system has banned activities by political parties. Initially the system promoted social cohesion and introduced significant local democracy based on 'individual merit'. But its continuation has inhibited democratic development.
	We have continuously encouraged the Government of Uganda to open up political space.
	We therefore welcomed President Museveni's call in March 2003 for this to occur in time for the next election in 2006. A White Paper proposing numerous changes to the constitution, including moving to a multi-party system and removing the limit on presidential terms, will be debated in the Ugandan Parliament shortly.
	We hope that these changes will be handled in line with the provisions of the constitution through a process that carries the confidence of the Ugandan people and Parliament, and will enable the necessary legal amendments for a multi-party system to be enacted sufficiently in advance of the 2006 elections.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have made to the Ugandan authorities regarding reports of President Museveni publicly supporting President Robert Mugabe's land policies and blaming the UK for the land problems in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Our high commissioner in Uganda met with President Museveni on 15 November and made clear the Government's views on land reform in Zimbabwe. He also expressed our disappointment at the comments made by the Ugandan President while on his visit to Zimbabwe.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of Uganda regarding reported arrests and detentions on treason charges by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence; what clarifications have been (A) sought and (B) received in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Our High Commissioner has raised these issues with the Minister of the Interior. He stressed the importance of the Government of Uganda arresting suspects, detaining them, charging them and bringing them to court within the provisions set by law. The Minister has provided assurances that the rule of law will be upheld.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of Uganda regarding (A) the human treason law in general and (B) the time required under the human treason law before bail can be applied for; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are concerned by reports of the treason law being used for political purposes. We regularly raise issues of good governance and human rights abuses with the Ugandan authorities, along with our EU partners.
	We will continue to urge the Ugandans to comply with the provisions of the constitution and uphold the rule of law.

Uganda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the circumstances of the death of Patrick Mamenero in Uganda in 2002; what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of Uganda with regard to (A) the detention by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and (B) the death while in detention of Patrick Mamenero in Uganda in 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are aware of the reports of Patrick Mamenero's death. We are concerned by evidence of arbitrary arrests and lack of due legal process in Uganda, and we take seriously reports of human rights abuses.
	The British High Commission in Kampala is an active member of the Donor Technical Group's Human Rights Working Group. This Working Group supports the Uganda Human Rights Commission in its interventions with the security agencies, including the Chieftancy of Military Intelligence, over alleged incidents of torture and illegal detention.
	The Human Rights Working Group will monitor a new initiative by the Director of Public Prosecutions and top security chiefs to eliminate torture, and keep an inventory of follow-up recommendations for further action.

Ukraine

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Ukraine.

Denis MacShane: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in the House on 29 November, Official Report, column 359, the international election observer mission led by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has concluded that the presidential elections held in Ukraine on 21 November were flawed. On that basis, we cannot accept that the process was either free or fair.
	We welcome developments in Ukraine since then. The Rada (Parliament) voted on 8 December to amend the constitution and election law. Together with the Supreme Court's earlier decision to invalidate the second round of the election, and the appointment of a new Central Election Committee, this has effectively resolved the political crisis.
	We now look forward to the re-run of the election on 26 December, and are calling on all parties to ensure that this will be free and fair and reflect the will of the people. It is vital that the Ukrainian authorities work closely with the OSCE to guarantee this. We will support the OSCE's efforts and plan to contribute at least 100 election observers.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan about (a) freedom of the media, (b) freedom of religion, (c) freedom of speech and (d) freedom of assembly.

Bill Rammell: We regularly stress to the Uzbek Government the importance of the freedom of the media. In November we, together with our EU partners, drew the attention of Foreign Minister Safayev to the importance of open debate in the media on the merits and drawbacks of the electoral law and process, including a role for the views of opposition parties.
	We frequently lobby the Uzbek Government with respect to religious freedom and it is a constant feature of our bilateral dialogue. On 19 October our Charge d'Affaires met with Deputy Foreign Minister Norov to underline the importance of drawing distinctions between those practising religion outside state structures and religious extremists. At a further meeting on 1 December, Norov informed our Charge d'Affaires that Uzbekistan had begun to experiment with a religious curriculum in the Tashkent area. A delegation from Uzbekistan, including the Presidential Adviser on Religious Affairs, came to the UK in July 2004. We plan to follow up these contacts with substantive proposals. A follow up seminar is planned for 2005.
	In November we joined our EU partners in expressing our concerns to Foreign Minister Safayev about the forthcoming elections and the limited choice available to voters. Candidates and parties should be free to present political alternatives to the electorate. In a letter to Safayev dated 23 November, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed the importance of allowing NGOs to speak freely, saying the activities of civil society groups such as Human Rights Watch are an important part of a healthy democracy.
	On 10 December our Charge d'Affaires approached the Foreign Ministry regarding an earlier demonstration outside our embassy. He sought clarification of reports that protesters had been held, and said that if people had been detained for wishing to participate in a peaceful protest we would be concerned and would expect them to be released quickly.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the growth in gross domestic product in Uzbekistan in 2003.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not estimate GDP growth in Uzbekistan, instead relying upon the data from the Uzbek authorities and other International Financial Institutions. The Uzbek authorities' estimate for real GDP growth in 2003 is 4.4 per cent. However, the World Economic Outlook (WHO) database gives a figure of 1.5 per cent. This database can be found at WEO@imf.org.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of industrial production in Uzbekistan is accounted for by the cotton crop.

Bill Rammell: We have not been able to obtain any figures from the Uzbek Government. However, the latest Economist Intelligence Unit Country Report gives the cotton crop as 3.53 million tonnes for 2004 (a 20 per cent. year on year increase) and as accounting for nearly 20 per cent. of total exports in 1993.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of industrial production in Uzbekistan is accounted for by gold.

Bill Rammell: The Uzbek Government does not publish figures on gold production.
	Gold mined last year is estimated to be around 86 tonnes compared to an annual average of around 70 tonnes in the early 1990s. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit this month, gold probably contributes to around 1015 per cent. of the country's total export revenue.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the level of (a) inflation, (b) unemployment, (c) money supply growth per annum, (d) per capita income and (e) annual average earnings growth are in Uzbekistan.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) relies on economic data from the Uzbek authorities and other international financial institutions. Because Uzbekistan does not allow public release of these reports, we are not able to quote IMF figures. Caution is advised with the official figures, which may not provide a wholly accurate representation of the state of Uzbekistan's economy.
	(a) Official sources give the rate of inflation as 3.8 per cent.
	(b) The official unemployment rate is given as 0.4 per cent. as of 1 July 2004.
	(c) Official sources: preliminary data for 2003 gives a 36.3 per cent. growth in Broad Money (deposits at commercial banks, savings etc).
	(d) Official figures give 387 sum (approx. $39) in 2003. Economist Intelligence Unit gives the 2002 average monthly wage as $40.50.
	(e) Official sources give the annual average earnings growth for the first half of 2004 as a 17 per cent. increase over the first half of 2003. For 2003 the increase was 12.3 per cent. compared to the previous year.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Karimov of Uzbekistan about human rights abuses in the country.

Bill Rammell: We have had no recent discussions with President Karimov about human rights abuses in Uzbekistan.
	However, we regularly and repeatedly bring our concern about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan to senior level attention within the Uzbek Government. We have done this in Ministerial and official contacts and together with EU partners.
	Most recently, we discussed these issues with Deputy Foreign Minister Norov on 1 December 2004.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan about the destruction of bridges in the Ferghana Valley.

Bill Rammell: No representations have been made. The destruction of bridges in the Ferghana Valley impact upon trade with neighbouring countries and the outflows of hard currency.
	We continue to be concerned by Uzbekistan's protectionist economic policy. During his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ganiev earlier this year, my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mike O'Brien, said that it was essential for Uzbekistan to implement economic reform in line with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development benchmarks.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Karimov of Uzbekistan about (a) the extension of his term of office and (b) the prohibition of Erk, Birlik and the free farmers from contesting parliamentary elections this month.

Bill Rammell: We have not made any direct representations to President Karimov regarding an extension of his current term in office. His second official term in office is due to finish in 2007. Chapter 19, Article 90 of the constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan states that One and the same person may not be the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two consecutive terms.
	We were very disappointed to learn that no opposition political parties had achieved registration in Uzbekistan for the parliamentary elections this December. We have lobbied and will continue to lobby the Uzbek authorities on the registration of political parties in the run-up to the elections. This issue was raised most recently on 11 November by our Charges d'Affaires and other EU Heads of Mission with Foreign Minister Safayev.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use by the Government of Uzbekistan of (a) increased tariffs and (b) non-tariff barriers in the form of certification and safety procedures and Uzbek language labelling.

Bill Rammell: The Uzbek Government continues to employ a protectionist economic policy. Trade controls such as tariffs, together with non-tariff barriers, limit the imports of consumer goods, enabling the Government to retain hard currency and follow its policy of building up a protected domestic industrial sector.
	Trade restrictions have adverse effects on the economy, relations with neighbours and on ordinary Uzbeks. Tariffs are prohibitive for traders and we believe widespread smuggling and bribery are direct consequences.
	We continue to urge the Uzbek Government towards economic reform. In a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ganiev earlier this year, my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mike O'Brien, said that it was essential that the Government of Uzbekistan demonstrate its commitment to implementing economic reforms in line with the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development benchmarks.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the levels of foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan from (a) the United States, (b) Japan, (c) the European Union and (d) the United Kingdom.

Bill Rammell: The figures requested are not publicly available. The Economist Intelligence Unit December 2004 report estimates that inflows of foreign direct investment are estimated to have increased slightly over the past two years, to an annual average of just below $170 million.
	The World Bank records $70 million for 2003 and $101 million for the first nine months of 2004.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan about the expulsion of the Open Society Institute from Tashkent.

Bill Rammell: We were very concerned to learn of the refusal of the Ministry of Justice to re-register the Open Society Institute in April.
	The EU raised this with the Uzbek Government at senior ministerial level in a dmarche, which was delivered by the UK as acting presidency in Tashkent. We are still pressing for an official response.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work has been undertaken by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy with members of the Democratic Forum in Uzbekistan.

Bill Rammell: I know of no work undertaken by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) with members of the Democratic Forum in Uzbekistan.
	However, our embassy in Tashkent frequently maintains links with independent political parties and has brought the WFD to the attention of the Democratic Forum. Together with our EU partners, we have lobbied in support of registration for the political parties that belong to the Democratic Forum throughout 2004.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the claim made by Mr. Craig Murray in his speech to Chatham House on 8 November, that a British businessman this year had his assets awarded by an Uzbek court to an Uzbek former partner who had already been paid for his share.

Bill Rammell: We have followed developments in the case referred to in the hon. Member's question. We were concerned by the initial ruling on the case by the Tashkent City court.
	We have since heard that the Supreme Court has annulled the findings of the City Court on the grounds that new information has come to light. The Supreme Court has instructed the City Court to review the cases, taking into account the new evidence. We shall continue to monitor the case closely.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the claim made by Mr Craig Murray in his speech to Chatham House on 8 November, that a UK company had its share in a joint enterprise with an Uzbek state entity reduced in a court case of which it had not been informed.

Bill Rammell: We believe the hon. Member's question refers to the case of a British company which established a joint venture company in 1993 with Uzbek partners.
	In October 2002 a dispute over the share of the assets was brought before an Uzbek court. Our understanding is that the court reduced the British partner's share to 40 per cent. and increased the Uzbek side's holding to 60 per cent.. According to the British partner, no consideration was given to the clause in the joint venture which stated that disputes should be settled by arbitration. The British company was advised it could protest formally to the Prosecutor's Office which it did at the end of October 2002. It has received no reply.
	We have followed this case with concern. In September 2004 the Co-Chairman of the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council brought it to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Ganiev.

Venezuela

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Venezuela following the signing of the Media Content Law; and what assessment he has made of the law's impact on freedom of expression in Venezuela.

Bill Rammell: During an official visit to Venezuela on 13 December, I raised concerns over certain aspects of the media law in meetings with the Venezuelan Vice-President and Deputy Foreign Minister. I said that I doubted the law was helpful in encouraging reconciliation between the government and the opposition.
	Although the media law is targeted to improve the quality of media in Venezuela, we are concerned that the law will place restrictions on the content of broadcasts. There is a risk that this will threaten the freedom of expression that currently exists in Venezuela.
	We will continue to assess the impact of the law and will continue to make representations to the Venezuelan Government on this and other human rights and democracy issues as necessary.

West Papua

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations to review the UN's conduct in relation to the 1969 Act of Free Choice in West Papua.

Douglas Alexander: The report of the UN Special Representative of the UN backed 1969 Act of Free Choice which resulted in West Papua becoming a province of Indonesia was accepted by a majority vote of the UN in 1969. The British Government welcome the high priority that President Yudhoyono has attached to the resolution of the conflict in Papua and his intention to implement the 2001 Special Autonomy Law for Papua, which includes the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to look at the incorporation of Papua into Indonesia in the 1960s.

Whistleblowers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the maintenance in European Communities' employment of named whistleblowers.

Denis MacShane: The Government's policy on the continued employment of whistleblowers is that whistleblowers should be protected from detriment resulting from disclosures which they make in accordance with the proper procedures. This is the position that we have provided for in the UK, in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. The European Communities' Staff Regulations provide for a similar level of protection for EC employees, who may use a number of channels to express their concerns and have them investigated, without fear of reprisal.

Whistleblowers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many whistle blowing cases there have been within European institutions in the past 30 years; which institutions have been involved in such cases; and what the employment status is of each individual concerned.

Denis MacShane: This is a matter for the institutions concerned. The information is not held by the Government.

World Trade Organisation (Accession)

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed accession to the World Trade Organisation of (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq and (c) Iran.

Denis MacShane: World Trade Organisation (WTO) Members discussed on 13 December requests from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran to begin the process of acceding to the WTO. The European Commission, which negotiates on our behalf in the WTO, supported all three applications.
	Accession requests can only go forward with the unanimous agreement of all WTO Members. All agreed to the requests of Afghanistan and Iraq, and these countries will now begin the formal accession process which is likely to last some years. I welcome this development, which is a step forward in helping Afghanistan and Iraq to develop their economies and integrate into the global economic system.
	Iran's application has been under consideration for several years. In the meeting on 13 December, the European Commission, acting for the EU, spoke strongly in favour of opening accession negotiations. We actively supported this approach, in line with an undertaking in the 'E3' (UK, French and German) agreement with Iran on 15 November. However, as on previous occasions, Iran's application did not secure the required support of all WTO members.

Zimbabwe

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) European Union and (b) Commonwealth counterparts on the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We and our EU partners regularly remind the Zimbabwean Government and its neighbours of the need for Zimbabwe to fully comply with African Union and Southern African Development Community protocols for democratic elections. A number of Commonwealth countries have done likewise.

Zimbabwe

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) European Union and (b) Commonwealth counterparts on the likely effect of Zimbabwe's new Non-Governmental Organisations Act on democracy groups in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We and our EU partners have made clear to the Zimbabwean Government and its neighbours our concerns about the Bill. The UN Development Programme office in Harare has also told the Zimbabwean Government that the Act breaches various UN and other international treaties to which the Zimbabwean Government is a party. Fellow members of the Commonwealth have made clear they share our concerns.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council (Theatre)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what revenue support has been given by Arts Council England for theatrical activity in each of the last three years for which data is available for projects in (a) Staffordshire, (b) Derbyshire, (c) Cheshire, (d) Warwickshire, (e) Herefordshire and (f) Worcestershire.

Estelle Morris: The data available is contained in the following table:
	
		
		
			 County 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) Staffordshire 696,771 844,665 865,781 
			 (b) Derbyshire 454,360 701,070 718,597 
			 (c) Cheshire 325,391 438,407 449,372 
			 (d) Warwickshire 247,552 304,979 405,603 
			 (e) Herefordshire 48,575 155,033 158,909 
			 (f) Worcestershire 42,782 63,767 65,361

Arts Council (Theatre)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Arts Council England has a strategic plan for the support of theatrical work in specified counties or regions; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: In July 2000 the Arts Council of England (now Arts Council England) published the National Policy for Theatre in England, which covers the whole country. In the same month, the Arts Council secured an extra 100 million of Government funding for arts from 200304.
	25 million of this new money was allocated to theatre annually from 200304 in order to implement the National Policy for Theatre in England. This represented a 72 per cent. increase in the budget for regional theatre.
	The National Policy for Theatre has been an overwhelming success and the additional investment has had a tangible impact on the regional theatre sector which is currently thriving.
	More new writing has been commissioned, ticket sales are up, there are more new productions, bigger cast sizes, more work with young people, more Black theatre and more adventurous programming than ever before.

Coliseum Concert Hall, Watford

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will discuss with the Eastern Region Arts Council possible assistance to ensure that the Coliseum concert hall in Watford remains open.

Estelle Morris: The Department does not fund the arts directly, but through Arts Council England and individual decisions are taken at 'arm's length' from Government. Ministers have no direct influence on the funding of individual art forms or organisations.

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the criteria for appointment to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment are; and what guidelines have been drawn up to prevent conflicts of interest.

Richard Caborn: The criteria for each appointment to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) depend on the particular role specification for each vacancy. To ensure that CABE is a credible organisation, it needs to include representatives in a number of fields including design, landscape architecture, architecture and property. Vacancies on the Board of CABE are publicised, as a minimum, on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) website and the Cabinet Office website. The application pack includes a copy of the role and person specification for the post and DCMS's guidance 'Probity and Conflicts of Interesta guide for candidates'.
	Following an independent audit of CABE and DCMS's own review of public appointments processes earlier this year, procedures for identifying, declaring and disposing of or managing interests so that actual or perceived conflicts are avoided were strengthened.
	All shortlisted candidates are asked about potential conflicts of interest during the interview. Prior to appointment, detailed discussions with the successful candidate take place and an exchange of letters, documents, any agreed arrangements. Before re-appointment, the register of interests is reviewed and updated.
	In the case of serving Commissioners, advisers and staff, CABE has its own guidance note on 'Managing Conflicts of Interest'.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by her Department.

Richard Caborn: My Department holds 43 credit cards to be used for official expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Richard Caborn: The following table shows departmental expenditure by Ministers and civil servants on UK travel and subsistence. An analysis by type of expenditure is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	
		
			 Financial year UK TS () 
		
		
			 200405(5507180007) 368,139.99 
			 200304 596,563.42 
			 200203 633,040.59 
			 200102 582,966.53 
			 200001 536,366.30 
			 19992000 502,258.11 
			 199899 429,482.14 
			 199798 373,363.70 
		
	
	(5507180007) To 16 December 2004.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: An analysis of expenditure on first class travel is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 200405 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sporthow many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Richard Caborn: The following table shows departmental expenditure by Ministers and civil servants on overseas travel and subsistence. An analysis by type of expenditure is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 200405 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.
	
		
			 Financial year Overseas () 
		
		
			 200405(5507180008) 220,177.12 
			 200304 337,094.77 
			 200203 243,596.37 
			 200102 167,626.85 
			 200001 275,649.23 
			 19992000 253,171.21 
			 199899 213,801.36 
			 199798 209,200.71 
		
	
	(5507180008) To 16 December 2004

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs of the Department were in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) electricity, (b) water, (c) gas, (d) telephones, (e) mobile telephones and (f) televisions.

Richard Caborn: Details of expenditure are not held at that level for the years prior to 2000. The periods recorded are financial years.
	
		Running Costs -- 000
		
			  Electricity Water Gas Telephones(5507180009) Televisions 
		
		
			 2000 283,931 3,106 58,532 357,000 No Record 
			 2001 273,750 3,061 58,784 260,000 14,981 
			 2002 276,019 3,100 59,503 302,000 15,684 
			 2003 253,616 2,696 52,015 236,000 15,872 
		
	
	(5507180009) included in the cost of telephones

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Richard Caborn: Four properties with a total net internal floor space of 10,557.94 sqare metres are held on leases. There are no vacant properties and no vacant floor space.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's records management policy ensures that records are stored securely and held no longer than necessary as required by the Public Records Act. Where information is no longer required and is to be destroyed, shredders are used for the disposal of confidential material. There has been no change to this policy in the last 12 months.

Drug Taking in Sport

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the effect of Court of First Instance case T-313/02, as detailed in OJ C300 volume 47 of 4 December, on European Union measures against drug taking in sport.

Richard Caborn: Primary responsibility for anti-doping policy currently rests with sport and Governments at member state level. The Government welcomes the judgment of the Court of First Instance that the International Olympic Committee anti-doping measures do not pursue any economic objective and are intended to preserve the spirit of fair play as well as the health of the athletes. This judgment reinforces the capacity of sport and national Governments to pursue an effective anti-doping policy.

Electronic Devices

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type.

Richard Caborn: My Department owns 1,483 devices listed as follows:
	712PCs
	31Communication devices (including modems)
	5Data Converters
	3Digital senders
	4External CD drives
	1Fingerprint reader
	7Switch boxes
	22Microwave ovens
	4Multifunction fax/printer/scanner
	32Hubs
	115PDAs
	106Notebooks
	163Printers
	8Projectors
	11Routers
	12Scanners
	78Servers
	2Speakers
	6Tape drives
	6Temperature monitors
	136Remote access security devices
	17Uninterrupted power supply units
	2Videoconferencing suites

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's electronic information management policy ensures that information deemed to be a record (under the Public Records Act) is captured and stored, this includes e-mails. The policy further provides that e-mails older than 12 months are to be deleted from electronic e-mail folders unless they are deemed to be a record and are to be stored. This policy was introduced in June 2004.

Entertainment Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on entertainment by her Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Richard Caborn: All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	The following table shows expenditure on entertainment, including working breakfasts or lunches, refreshment at meetings and official entertainment, by the Department since 199798. In 200203 changes were made in the way entertainment expenditure was captured to include associated staff costs following the contracting out of the hospitality service. The Department's accounting system does not record information by the categories requested and it can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure() 
		
		
			 199798 15,269.81 
			 199899 24,496.51 
			 19992000 33,359.78 
			 200001 51,666.75 
			 200102 32,586.56 
			 200203 87,150.29 
			 200304 90,007.37 
			 200405 (to December 2004) 61,270.90

International Cricket Council Headquarters

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the England and Wales Cricket Board, (b) the MCC, (c) UK Sport, (d) Sport England and (e) the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the location of the ICC headquarters; and what the outcome was in each case.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 20 December 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 December 2004, Official Report, column 167W.
	Following their discussions with my Department, UK Sport submitted a proposal to the Chancellor. The Paymaster General, as Minister responsible, responded to UK Sport by letter on 15 November 2004.
	I am not aware that my Department has had any discussions on this subject with the MCC or Sport England. However, a DCMS official accompanied representatives of UK Sport to a meeting with the ICC on 27 July, where the issue of the ICC's possible relocation was discussed.

IT Projects

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list her Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of over-run and (d) time of over-run.

Richard Caborn: The information for IT projects in the current financial year is as follows:
	Internal network addressing reconfiguration
	28,000, changes to the Department's internal Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network addressing structure, no over-run, no over-run.
	Server consolidation programme
	43,000, reducing ad hoc server numbers and replacing with dedicated servers, delivered below budget saving 7,000, no over-run.
	Online form for Export Licensing
	35,000, allowing commercial exporters to submit applications for export licences online, 5,000 over-run, one month.
	BBC Charter Review Database
	32,000, tracking responses to BBC Charter Review consultation exercise, delivered below budget saving 2,000, no over-run.
	Gambling Bill Consultation Database
	10,000, system to track responses to Gambling Bill consultation exercise, delivered below budget saving 7,000, no over-run.
	Research Information Database
	13,000, provide a repository for research information held by the Department, 2,000 over-run, one week.
	Development of Fol Correspondence Management System
	560,000, system to manage all correspondence including Fol requests, no over-run, no over-run.
	It is not possible to provide the information for previous years save at disproportionate cost.

Licensing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has issued to local authorities on the membership of local authority licensing committees, sub-committees and panels established under the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: In July 2004 we issued guidance to licensing authorities under s 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. Chapter 3 included advice on administration, exercise and delegation of functions. In addition, we have recently completed a public consultation on regulations and an order under the 2003 Act, including those relating to hearings procedures. We do not currently intend to prescribe any further regulations beyond these. Therefore, in all other respects licensing committees may regulate their own procedures and that of their sub-committees by following standard local authority committee procedures.

Lottery Funding

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery funding was received from distributors for expenditure on (a) the arts, (b) National Heritage and (c) sport in each year from 1997 to 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The following amounts of lottery money were distributed by distributors within the Arts, Heritage and Sports good causes, by calendar year:
	
		 million
		
			  Arts Heritage Sport 
		
		
			 1997 359 474 176 
			 1998 195 318 252 
			 1999 241 212 303 
			 2000 129 172 369 
			 2001 199 239 449 
			 2002 174 316 421 
			 2003 196 333 162 
			 2004(5507180010) 86 169 30 
		
	
	(5507180010) The figures for 2004 are not yet final due to lags in the reporting process.
	This information is freely available from the Department's searchable lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the lottery distributors.

Lottery Funding

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Department is taking to ensure that past lottery awards were legitimate.

Estelle Morris: Individual lottery awards are matters for decision by each distributing body acting independently of the Government. The Department would, however, expect distributors to make awards that are not only legitimate but which support good quality, value for money projects that further the purposes and objectives of the body distributing lottery funds.
	Each lottery distributing body is required under its financial directions, or where appropriate under other financial control documents, to have controls in place to detect and deter fraud. Where actual cases of fraud are detected, distributing bodies are required to inform the Department, to investigate thoroughly and to take appropriate action to recover public funds. The Department would expect distributors to examine the lessons learned from any such cases and to make the improvements to controls and systems necessary to prevent a recurrence.

Lottery Funding

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the alleged attempt to defraud the National Lottery.

Estelle Morris: I can confirm that we are being kept closely informed by the Big Lottery Fund about a fraud investigation, and that the police and National Audit Office were informed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will make a full statement as soon as it is appropriate to do so. In the meantime, I can assure the hon. Member that all necessary action is being taken to identify the scale and nature of the suspected fraud, and to identify any improvements to controls which may be necessary.

National Play Strategy

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in the adoption of a national play strategy; what resources have been allocated towards it; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: We will shortly be responding to the review of children's play carried out by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) last year, and over the course of the coming year we will build on this in developing Government play policy.

National Water Sports Centre

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) future of the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint.

Richard Caborn: The National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont is primarily a facility for rowing and canoeing. It is a training camp for many of the country's leading watersportsmen and women and it is the main venue for national competitions.
	Nottinghamshire county council and Sport England are discussing the future role and development of the site because many of the facilities and the current operating model date back to the 1970s. Discussions are at a very early stage and no timescales for development have yet been set.
	In the event of a successful 2012 Olympic bid, the site could serve as a preparation base for visiting, or British teams, in the run-up to the Games; but this would be a matter for the teams in question to consider.

National Water Sports Centre

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who owns the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint.

Richard Caborn: The National Watersports Centre site at Holme Pierrepont is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council.
	In the early 1970s, the site was developed in partnership between the county council and the then Sports Council. The Sports Council Trust Company is the current leaseholder.

Office of Communications

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what salary is paid to the (a) chair, (b) chief executive and (c) board members of the Office of Communications; and how many days' work a week each is expected to undertake.

Estelle Morris: Details of the remuneration paid to Office of Communications board members are published in the Ofcom Annual Report 200304 (section E), a copy of which is in the Library and on the Ofcom website: www.ofcom.org.uk http://www.ofcom.org.uk. The time commitment of non-executive board members is a maximum of four days a week for the chair and two days a week for others. The Chief Executive and other Executive Members of Ofcom's Board are full-time employees of Ofcom.

Pay TV

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Richard Caborn: Television subscription channels are available for each Minister, Private Office, the Press Office and the Information Centre. The total number is 12.
	Costs are held for years 200203 (27,100) and 200304 (31,067). Costs are not held for the previous years.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Richard Caborn: Seven press officers are employed in the Department at present.

Rowing

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to promote the sport of rowing.

Richard Caborn: Sport England funds the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) through both the Lottery and the Exchequer to support its development and world class plans. Since 1997, the ARA has received 15.5 million of funding. Amongst other programmes, this has allowed it to develop Project Oarsome and Go Row, both aimed at increasing junior participation. The ARA has also received an allocation of 1,216,500 from the Community Club Development Programme for distribution amongst rowing clubs. On top of this, since 1997 community rowing clubs have benefited from Sport England awards totalling 19.8 million.
	In 2003 rowing was identified as one of the thirty sports to receive prioritised investment from Sport England's new national funding stream. The ARA has submitted a Whole Sport Plan for the sport to cover the period April 200509. This plan is currently under review by Sport England's national investment panel and a decision on future funding levels will be made shortly.

Rowing

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding her Department has provided to Project Oarsome since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the outcome.

Richard Caborn: Sport England provided a Lottery grant of 1.6 millionout of total project funding of 2.5 millionto support the Amateur Rowing Association's Project Oarsome.
	The project, which aims to attract, support and retain young people in rowing, has seen 110 schools linked with 51 rowing clubs, involving some 30,000 Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils. There are currently over 500 club coaches working in schools.
	Over the course of the project there has been a 104 per cent. increase in junior club membership, a 35 per cent. increase in club membership overall and a 145 per cent. increase in active qualified coaches. A survey of the project found that 94 per cent. of the children involved considered the scheme to be 'excellent or very good'.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has been informed of breaches of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in her Department since its implementation.

Richard Caborn: Paragraph 22 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that any civil servant who believes that action of a special adviser goes beyond that adviser's authority or breeches the Civil Service Code should raise the matter immediately with the Secretary of the Cabinet or the First Civil Commissioner, directly or through a senior civil servant.
	Information relating to complaints made by civil servants to the civil service commissioner is set out in the civil service commissioners' annual report.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: Special advisers attend meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether departmental special advisers have made speeches in their official capacity since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: Any speeches made by special advisers in an official capacity are conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The terms and conditions under which special advisers are appointed are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The special advisers who work at DCMS do not have executive powers allowing them to authorise departmental expenditure.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The terms and conditions under which special advisers are appointed are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Neither of the DCMS special advisers has executive powers authorising them to give instructions to civil servants.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether departmental special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Department's special advisers contacts with external bodies and organisations are undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many special advisers there are in the Department, broken down by Civil Service pay-grade.

Richard Caborn: Details on the names and number of special advisers by pay band by Department are published on annual basis. For information for the financial year 200304, I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 466W.
	Information for 200405 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the property belonging to her Department that has been (a) stolen and (b) reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article.

Richard Caborn: All losses and thefts of property are reported annually to Her Majesty's Treasury and thefts are also recorded as security breaches. Records of thefts and losses prior to 1998 are no longer available.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 1998 (5507180011)1,350 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 (5507180012)1,823 
			 2002 (5507180013)3,200 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 (5507180014)0 
		
	
	(5507180011) Lap top computer
	(5507180012) Personal computer, PC ancillaries
	(5507180013) Computer equipment
	(5507180014) To date

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants from her Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: No civil servant in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft since 1997.

TV Licence

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what process she monitors the effectiveness of television licence compliance measures; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: Since 1991, the BBC has had responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system. The Director General of the BBC is deemed to be the BBC's Accounting Officer for these purposes and as such is accountable to the National Audit Office (NAO) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the collection and enforcement arrangements, which were reviewed by the NAO and PAC in 2002.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have formal procedures for monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of the BBC's licence fee activities. However, the Department believes it is essential that the BBC funding arrangements represent value for money and we shall consider this subject in detail as part of BBC Charter Review.

TV Licence

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints were received in (a) 200102, (b) 200203 and (c) 200304 relating to the pursuit of those who do not have a television but who receive letters or visits demanding that they pay for a licence.

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport receives a considerable volume of correspondence about the television licensing system, including complaints about various aspects of TV Licensing's administrative and enforcement activities. However, the Department's correspondence records are not held in such a way as to permit detailed tallies of specific types of complaint.

Video Violence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the outcome was of the cross-departmental meeting held in the week beginning 6 December concerning violent video games;
	(2)  what initiatives the Government plan to take with regard to control of violent videos.

Estelle Morris: On 10 December, DCMS officials, along with those from DTI and the Home Office, met representatives of the computer games industry, the retail trade, the Video Standards Council, the mobile phone industry, the Local Government Association, the Trading Standards Institute and the British Board of Film Classification, to discuss ways in which the selling of violent computer games could be better regulated.
	The meeting explored possible improvements to the labelling and packaging of such games and the training of retail staff selling games. Further discussions are being held with interested parties on those and a range of other issues, including strengthening the enforcement regime of illegal sales.

Video Violence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the results have been of research undertaken by the Government concerning media classification and violent video games.

Estelle Morris: DCMS is commissioning a review of extant research to determine whether there is a link between playing violent video games and real-world behaviour. The last such Government study was carried out by the Home Office in 2001, the results of which were inconclusive.

Working Time Regulations

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials working in ministerial private offices in the Department have worked more than a 48 hour week at any time in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of those had signed a waiver under working time regulations; and what percentage these figures represented of the total in each case.

Richard Caborn: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the protection of a limit of an average of 48 hours a week working time. This is not an absolute cap of 48 hours in any one week. This average is normally calculated over a 17-week reference period, although this can be longer in certain situations (26 weeks) and can be extended by agreement (up to 52 weeks). Workers may choose to work more than 48 hours per week over this reference period by signing an opt-out agreement, but employers cannot force a worker to sign an opt-out, and workers cannot be subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out. 11 staff in the Department's ministerial private offices have signed an opt-out agreement.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when Maxwell Stamp plc are due to report to him on progress in delivering the Chars Livelihood Programme: concept and management in Bangladesh; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Maxwell Stamp plc started the Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP) in July 2004 following approval by the Government of Bangladesh. A substantive report on progress, including its management, is expected a year later by August 2005. Maxwell Stamp plc is now preparing an action plan to adapt the CLP, which was prepared two years ago in 2002, to the current situation in the Chars. The action plan will take account of recent developments in the Chars and ensure that the programme meets current needs.
	DFID will conduct an independent annual review of the programme by the end of November 2005 and a copy of the report will be available on request.

Central Africa

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) monetary aid and (b) food aid was provided to each country in Central Africa by (i) EU member states, (ii) the EU, (iii) the US and (iv) the UK, with the aim of relieving the humanitarian and social burden of refugee populations from the host nation in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Current available data do not allow a complete answer to this question. Many donors, including DFID, provide a significant part of their support to humanitarian agencies either as un-earmarked contributions, or on an Africa-wide basis, which does not lend itself to being broken down by specific Central African countries. Additionally, agencies often target refugees as well as other vulnerable groups within one single operation, making it difficult to isolate the support to refugees.
	DFID channels the majority of its monetary support to refugee operations through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Globally, (including Central Africa), from 1997 until 2004, DFID contributions to the UNHCR have totalled 145 million. For the same period, US contributions have totalled 1.2 billion, EC contributions have totalled 350 million, and EU member state contributions combined (not including UK contributions) have amounted to 1 billion. Of the 26 million provided to the UNHCR in 2003, 15 million (57 per cent.) was unearmarked but certainly contributed to the Central African operations, a further 1 million (4 per cent.) was earmarked for general Africa operations, and an additional 1.5 million (6 per cent.) was specifically earmarked for operations in Chad and the DRC.
	From 1997 until 2003, DFID also channelled a further 11 million of support to non-UN agencies operating in support of refugee programmes across the Central and Great Lakes Regions of Africa.
	For food assistance to refugees, DFID channels the majority of its funding through the World Food Programme (WFP). Again, it is not possible to disaggregate this support accurately by specific countries. However, from 1998 until 2004, DFID support to the WFP globally has totalled 300 million, and DFID is currently the WFP's fourth largest donor. For the same period, US support to the WFP has totalled 3.8 billion, EC support has totalled 650 million, and combined EU member-state contributions (not including the UK) have amounted to 920 million. As a Central African example, 2004 contributions to the WFP's feeding programme for Sudanese refugees in Chad have seen the UK commit 2.2 million compared to the US contribution of 16 million, the EC contribution of 1.4 million, and the non-UK EU member state contributions totalling 4.3 million.
	Meeting the food and non-food requirements of refugee populations in Central Africa remains a humanitarian priority for DFID. In addition, DFID actively promotes local acceptance of refugees by channelling parallel support to host populations and refugee-affected areas. And ultimately, DFID supports the search for durable solutions for refugee populations, promoting and facilitating voluntary repatriation when conditions in the country-of-origin permit. At the same time, DFID also prioritises similar standards of assistance to Internally Displaced Persons.
	Additional information on other donor contributions to refugee operations in Africa can be found on the websites of the UNHCR (www.unhcr.ch), the WFP (www.wfp.org), Reliefweb (www.reliefweb.int), the US Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (www.state.gov/g/prm/), and the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) (http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/index_en.htm).

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of official departmental Christmas cards included a contribution to charity in their cost; and which charities benefited from such a contribution.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID produced its own card this year. There was no contribution to charity included in the production costs.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of purchasing official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2003, DFID paid 4,597.78p for 6,000 cards. In 2004 DFID paid 2,211.36p for 7,000 cards. Both these costs include envelopes and delivery charges.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many official Christmas cards were sent out by his Department in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004;
	(2)  what the cost of postage was for official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 2003, DFID produced 6,000 cards. In 2004 DFID produced 7,000 cards. Quantities of cards are sent to DFID teams on request. This covers staff based in UK HQs and offices overseas. As individual teams have been responsible for sending out cards to stakeholders and contacts the cost of obtaining the information required by this question would be disproportionate to the end result.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his target time is in 200405 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in his office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The target time for reply to all correspondence received by DFID from Members of Parliament and the public is 15 working days; in line with the target time prescribed by Cabinet Office. Information on the departmental handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament/Peers is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The 2003 annual report is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by his Department.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID holds 27 official credit cards in the UK. These are mainly used for the purchase of low value items under the Government Procurement Card arrangements.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to implement well-established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Acts.
	Paper files for which there is no longer a business need, and which are not of historical interest, are destroyed in accordance with disposal schedules agreed between DFID and the National Archives. Material which is protectively marked is shredded, in line with the policy outlined in DFID's Security Manual, which is itself derived from Her Majesty's Government's Manual of Protective Security. This policy has not changed in the past 12 months.

HIV/AIDS

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial assistance will be allocated for his Department's strategy for meeting the needs of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children; and how much of this will be allocated to (a) civil society organisations in developing countries, (b) international relief organisations and (c) budget support for developing country governments.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In the UK's AIDS Strategy Taking Action, published in July 2004, DFID stated that we will commit 150 million to meet the needs of orphans and other children, particularly those in Africa, made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
	On 16 December, I detailed how the 150 million would be spent at the Global Partners Forum on Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Washington. A copy of the speech is available in the Library of the House. The following table shows how the 150 million will be allocated.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Through UNICEF 44 
			 Through DFID African country programmes 85 
			 Through DFID Asian country programmes 4 
			 Scientific research 2 
			 To be programmed 15 
			 Total 150 
		
	
	Of the 44 million of support to be delivered through UNICEF, 38 million will support activities in Africa, 5 million will support UNICEF's global-level work, and 1 million for work in Asia. The remaining 15 million will be programmed as needs emerge.
	Part of the money that goes through DFID country programmes may take the form of budget support to governments to advance their national OVC plans through health and education sectors, social protection programmes and working with civil society.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2004 to the hon. Member for Tooting (Tom Cox), Official Report, columns 81920, on Iraq, what the source was of his information that water was supplied to remaining civilians in Fallujah by Iraqi and multinational forces; and how his Department's advisers made their estimate that only about 1,500 civilians remain in Fallujah.

Hilary Benn: UK officials in Iraq maintain close contact with the Iraqi interim Government (IIG), and with representatives of the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), who reported that forces had supplied water to the civilians remaining in Fallujah. In addition, the Iraqi Ministry of Health and the US Marines report that they had stockpiled supplies of water and other essential items, prior to military action. There is also an MNF-I Civil Military Operations Centre in Fallujah, which is helping to co-ordinate provision of essential supplies to civilians. Visits by DFID advisers confirm that water tankers have been operating in Fallujah, supplying the needs of the residents who remain.
	DFID advisers are working closely with the Iraqi Interim Government Fallujah Core Group, which is responsible for co-ordinating humanitarian work in and around Fallujah. The estimate that 1,500 civilians remain in Fallujah was reached after visits to the city by DFID advisers, members of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, and British military officials. The IIG Fallujah Core Group and a UN Emergency Working Group are also monitoring the location and condition of Fallujah's displaced citizens. They have been able to estimate numbers both outside and inside Fallujah through assessment visits to the surrounding area.

Seychelles

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role was played by CDC in the Seychelles gas turbine project; and whether his Department has conducted investigations into it.

Hilary Benn: In 1993, the CDC provided a 1.8 million loan facility to the Seychelles Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) in connection with the upgrading of the Victoria A Power Station on the island of Mahe. The facility was used to purchase a gas-turbine electrical generator. CDC's role was solely that of financier.
	DFID has not conducted any investigation into this matter.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants from his Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) considers theft to be gross misconduct as set out in its Discipline Procedures, the maximum penalty for which, if the case is proven following a duly instigated investigation and disciplinary meeting, is dismissal and the possibility of criminal proceedings. Details of this procedure are contained in DFID's Staff Handbook, available to all staff. The following table sets out all disciplinary cases in DFID relating to theft since 1998 as provided to HM Treasury.
	
		
			  (a) Disciplinary proceedings (b) Charged with theft (c) Dismissed 
		
		
			 199899 3 3 2 
			 19992000 2 2 2 
			 200001 1 1 0 
			 200102 8 8 5 
			 200203 5 5 4 
			 200304 5 5 5 
		
	
	Note:
	DFID employs both civil servants and staff appointed in country in its overseas offices. Figures include staff from both categories.

Sudan

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government is providing to (a) the government of Sudan and (b) non-governmental organisations operating in Sudan, broken down by (i) the amount and (ii) the use to which funds are being put; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID currently provides no support directly to the Government of Sudan.
	The table sets out our allocations for this financial year 20042005 to non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in Sudan.
	
		
			  Agency  Description Total Cost ( million) 
		
		
			 Sudan (non-Darfur) Allocations 
			 MSF Provision of healthcare 2,646,833 
			 HNI Healthcare 13,500 
			 Merlin Provision of healthcare 500,000 
			 Oxfam Food security 1,088,368 
			 Okenden HIV/AIDS 296,666 
			 CARE Peace building 958,794 
			 Tearfund Health 708,500 
			 Worldvision Nutrition 316,078 
			 ACF Nutrition 299,895 
			 GOAL Nutrition and Education 1,447,349 
			 Conern Nutrition 300,000 
			 Christian Aid Nutrition 499,790 
			 Rift Valley Institute Research and Training 83,503 
			 Save the Children Support to abducted women and children 375,000 
			 Others small NGO contributions Education and Health 376,241 
			 Subtotal  9,910,517 
			   
			 Darfur Allocations 
			 SC-UK Emergency Response to Conflict Related Internal Displacement in North Darfur 500,000 
			 MSF-F Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfurthrough increasing access to health care in conflict areas, disease prevention, halting nutritional deterioration and treating malnourished children 491,369 
			 MSF-F Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfurthrough increasing access to health care in conflict areas, disease prevention, halting nutritional deterioration and treating malnourished children 1,006,860 
			 MSF-H Darfur Components of Emergency Health Interventions in Northern Sudan Project 1,301,822 
			 GOAL Emergency Assistance to Population in Kutum Province, North Darfurthrough a combined Health, Nutrition and Shelter Intervention 575,963 
			 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 250,000 
			 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 623,326 
			 Oxfam Public Health Humanitarian Response Darfur (Water/Sanitation programme) 2,193,161 
			 MSF- Belgium Emergency Health Care for IDPs in North Darfur 1,338,600 
			 CARE Logistics operation to improve access to shelter and non-food items for IDPs in Greater Darfur 603,195 
			 International Rescue Committee Provision of Environmental Health, Primary Health and Child Protection Services for War Affected Communities in North Darfur 728,849 
			 SC-US Emergency Water and Sanitation Intervention in West Darfur 676,206 
			 SC-UK Emergency Response to Conflict Affected Population in South Darfur 1,068,777 
			 Medair Emergency Assistance to IDPs through the provision of Primary Healthcare, Improved Access to Clean Water and Improved Sanitation in West Darfur 1,032,500 
			 CAFOD Emergency response programme in South and West Darfur 400,000 
			 Medecins du Monde Emergency medical aid for displaced populations in Kalma camp, South Darfur 456,151 
			 Tearfund Emergency Nutrition and Sanitation 447,692 
			 World Vision Emergency Sanitation for internally displaced persons and war-affected communities in Darfur 495,835 
			 Valid International Raising standards amongst agencies implementing community-based therapeutic care in Darfur, Sudan 98,595 
			 International Rescue Committee Health care for refugees and local populations in Eastern Chad 515,535 
			 MSFBelgium Health care and nutrition for refugees and local populations in Eastern Chad 350,000 
			 International Medical Corps Health care and nutrition for refugees and local populations in Eastern Chad 469,090 
			 Oxfam Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Eastern Chad 1,232,239 
			 Sub-total  16,855,765 
			 Grand Total  26,766,282 
		
	
	The UN has recently launched its Workplan for 2005 for Sudan, totalling $1.48 billion.
	The UK has committed 100 million for Sudan for 2005, provisional upon signature of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement. DFID will continue to work through NGOs, as well as other partners to meet the enormous needs.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is giving to the provision of donkeys to internally displaced people in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: The UK is a leading donor of humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people (IDP) in Darfur. DFiD's priority is to support the UN and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to meet the emergency needs of the displaced people through the most appropriate help.
	Donkeys are an important asset, as part of people's livelihoods. One part of our support to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) deals with feed and health care to donkeys both in camps and outside. DFID support includes 1 million to the FAO, whose priority is to provide veterinarian support for donkeys and livestock.
	We are now thinking about how we can support livelihoods in the medium and long-term if and when conditions improve. It is important that UN agencies receive up front funding so they can plan ahead. Part of this support will go to the FAO, who will be the lead agency in terms of rehabilitation of livelihoods, including help with livestock and animal health.

Taskforces

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by his Department in each year since 1997 on taskforces and similar bodies.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 16 December 2004
	Since 1997, the Department for International Development (DFID) has been responsible for 11 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), task forces and advisory bodies. Expenditure for each is as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Executive NDPBs
			 Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom 20 19 18 19 19 18 21 
			 Commission costs including honoraria, welcome programme etc 0.055 0.063 0.084 0.096 0.107 0.116 0.140 
			 Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board 0.053 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Advisory NDPBs
			 Advisory Committee on Overseas Economic  Social Research 0.001 0.001 0 0.001 0.001   
			 Development Awareness Working Group  0.002 0 0.007 0.007   
			 Indian family Pensions Funds Body of Commissioners 0.001 0.001 0 0.001 0.001   
			 Know How Fund Advisory Board 0.001 0.001 0 
			 Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board 0.001 0.001 0 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 
			 
			 Task Force
			 Commission on Intellectual Property Rights  0  
			 
			 Ad-hoc Advisory Groups
			 Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy  0  
			 Rural Enterprise Technology Facility (RETF) Working Group  0  
			 
			 Public Corporations
			 Commonwealth Development Corporation 0 0 0 0
		
	
	Note:
	The majority of costs listed relate to administrative charges and the reimbursement of travelling expenses. Where '0' is shown, this signifies costs of less than 1,000.
	DFID provides funding to support the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan which is administered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission in the UK, an NDPB. The Plan provides scholarships and fellowships for students from Commonwealth countries to study either in the UK or, increasingly, through distance learning in country. Since 1997, DFID has provided a total of 62.5 million to the overall costs of the plan; of this 747,545 was the total cost for the operation of the Commission.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan about the restrictions placed on non-governmental organisations operating in the country.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	We continue to be concerned by the restrictions imposed upon and the harassment suffered by the NGO community in Uzbekistan.
	In February 2004 the EU wrote to the Minister of Justice stressing the importance of the contribution made to society by NGOs and raised the issue again with the Deputy Minister of Justice in March.
	We were very concerned to learn of the refusal of the Ministry of Justice to re-register the Open Society Institute in April. The EU raised this with the Uzbek Government at senior ministerial level in a demarche, which was delivered by the UK as acting Presidency in Tashkent. We are still pressing for an official response.
	In November we received reports that the Uzbek authorities might not renew the visa of the Director of Human Rights Watch in Uzbekistan, Allison Gill. We joined EU partners in bringing the issue to the attention of Foreign Minister Safayev in a meeting on 11 November. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary followed this with a letter to Mr. Safayev pressing for the renewal of Ms Gill's visa, in which he said that:
	the activities of civil society groups such as Human Rights Watch are an essential part of a healthy democracy.
	An extension has been granted until 31 December, We will continue to press for a full renewal.

Veterinary Support

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent support his Department has given to charities which provide veterinary support to working animals in (a) Darfur and (b) other areas.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises the important role of livestock as a key livelihood asset. Preventing ill health and the death of working animals is as critical as provision of new ones.
	In Darfur, DFID support includes 1 million to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), whose priority is to provide veterinarian support for donkeys and livestock. This includes the provision of feed and health care to 14,000 donkeys, 90,000 small ruminants, and 180,000 chickens both in camps and outside. In addition the programme includes provision for the training of community animal health monitors.

Working Time Regulations

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials working in ministerial private offices in the Department have worked more than a 48 hour week at any time in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of those had signed a waiver under working time regulations; and what percentage these figures represented of the total in each case.

Hilary Benn: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the protection of a limit of an average of 48 hours a week working time. This is not an absolute cap of 48 hours in any one week. This average is normally calculated over a 17-week reference period, although this can be longer in certain situations (26 weeks) and can be extended by agreement (up to 52 weeks). Workers may choose to work more than 48 hours per week over this reference period by signing an opt-out agreement, but employers cannot force a worker to sign an opt-out, and workers cannot be subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out.
	No QFID Ministerial Private Office staff have signed an opt-out agreement. DFID is committed to maintaining and improving the work-life balance of all its staff, including those in Ministerial offices.
	Seven staff in DFID Ministerial Private Offices have worked more than a 48 hour week on at least one occasion in the last twelve months for which figures are available. This represents approximately 40 per cent. of the total staff in DFID Ministerial offices.

DEFENCE

Ex-service Personnel (Homelessness)

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Department is taking to tackle homelessness among ex-service personnel.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has been working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, other Government Departments, veterans' organisations and other service providers to put in place a coordinated and structured approach to tackle homelessness among a small minority of ex-Service personnel. Our aim is both to prevent new Service leavers becoming homeless as well as to provide an effective safety net for existing vulnerable and homeless ex-Service personnel.

Yorkshire Regiment

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future deployment of the proposed Yorkshire Regiment.

Geoff Hoon: The three battalions that will form the Yorkshire Regiment by 2008 are 1 Green Howards, 1 Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, and 1 Duke of Wellington's Regiment. The Duke of Wellington's Regiment is currently serving in Iraq, a deployment that is expected to last until May 2005. The Green Howards are planned to deploy to Bosnia in 2006. The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment is currently training in Catterick with 19 Brigade, and in 2006 it will be allocated on standby to the NATO Reaction Force.

Scottish Regiments

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent progress in taking forward his plans for the Scottish regiments.

Geoff Hoon: As I announced to the House on 16 December, we plan to reduce by one the number of battalions in the Scottish Division. This will be achieved by merging the First Battalions of the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers. This new battalion, together with the other four regular battalions, will form a new large regiment, known as the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Royal Welch Fusiliers

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with senior officers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers on the future of the regiment; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The process of re-structuring the infantry has been worked through by the Army, consulting with the divisions and regiments concerned.
	The outcome of the Army's deliberations which I announced on 16 December, is that a new large infantry regiment will be formed to be known as The Royal Welsh. It will consist of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) and 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales).

Far East (Internees)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on compensation for those interned in the Far East.

Ivor Caplin: In November 2000, the Government instituted the scheme to make ex-gratia payments of 10,000 each to members of certain groups held captive by the Japanese during the second world war. Among those covered by the scheme are civilian internees who were British subjects and had a close connection with the United Kingdom at the time of their captivity. By 5 January this year 23,949 payments had been made to those held captive or their surviving spouses. These include 2,325 payments to former civilian internees themselves.

Defence Industrial Policy

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Department has taken to implement the Defence Industrial Policy.

Adam Ingram: The principles set out in the Government's Defence Industrial Policy apply to all acquisition decisions and we continue to work closely with industry to deliver the maximum benefits from its implementation. In particular we have made progress in areas such as market access, cooperation with our allies, maximising the benefits from our investment in research and technology and making improvements to our acquisition and capability management processes. In developing the Defence Industrial Strategy we are undertaking work to identify in more detail the technical capabilities that are likely to be needed to meet defence needs in the future and to assess the importance of sustaining them in the UK for national security, technology or wider economic reasons. We will publish a review shortly of the implementation of our Policy which will set this out in more detail.

King's Lancashire and Border Regiment

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rename the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment the Royal Lancashire Regiment.

Geoff Hoon: The process of restructuring the infantry has been worked through by the Army consulting with the divisions and regiments concerned. As part of this process those infantry divisions affected by the changes were asked to suggest options for new regimental titles. Of the options put forward by the King's Division, the proposed title of the 'King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment', was felt by the Army Board to best reflect all the antecedent regiments from which it will be drawn.

Iraq

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the armed forces have played in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon Friend, the Member for the City of York (Hugh Bayley).

Iraq

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military situation in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay).

Electoral Registration (Service Personnel)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take to encourage electoral registration by service voters.

Ivor Caplin: An internal information campaign will begin at the end of this month. This will be linked with the publication of a revised Defence Council Instruction providing full information and practical help on how to register, and explaining the various voting options available for the service community.

Administrative Discharges

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many administrative discharges have taken place under Queen's Regulation paragraph (a) 9.398, (b) 9.403, (c) 9.404, (d) 9.405, (e) 9.411, (f) 9.412, (g) 9.413 and (h) 9.414 since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The number of discharges that have taken place under the requested Queen's Regulation paragraphs are:
	
		Soldiers
		
			 Date of flow/outflow code Queen's Regs. Grand total 
		
		
			 1998  
			 (a) 9.398  
			 (b) 9.403 0 
			 (c) 9.404 120 
			 (d) 9.405 160 
			 (e) 9.411 15 
			 (f) 9.412 0 
			 (g) 9.413 (5507180015)190 
			 (h) 9.414 1,100 
			   
			 1999  
			 (a) 9.398 0 
			 (b) 9.403 5 
			 (c) 9.404 110 
			 (d) 9.405 180 
			 (e) 9.411 15 
			 (f) 9.412  
			 (g) 9.413 95 
			 (h) 9.414 925 
			   
			 2000  
			 (a) 9.398 10 
			 (b) 9.403  
			 (c) 9.404 90 
			 (d) 9.405 170 
			 (e) 9.411 20 
			 (f) 9.412  
			 (g) 9.413 65 
			 (h) 9.414 1,165 
			   
			 2001  
			 (a) 9.398 0 
			 (b) 9.403  
			 (c) 9.404 115 
			 (d) 9.405 150 
			 (e) 9.411 20 
			 (f) 9.412 0 
			 (g) 9.413 45 
			 (h) 9.414 1,315 
			   
			 2002  
			 (a) 9.398 10 
			 (b) 9.403 0 
			 (c) 9.404 120 
			 (d) 9.405 160 
			 (e) 9.411 20 
			 (f) 9.412 0 
			 (g) 9.413 5 
			 (h) 9.414 1,125 
			   
			 2003  
			 (a) 9.398  
			 (b) 9.403  
			 (c) 9.404 135 
			 (d) 9.405 170 
			 (e) 9.411 20 
			 (f) 9.412 0 
			 (g) 9.413 0 
			 (h) 9.414 1,375 
			 Grand total 9,220 
		
	
	(5507180015) Figures for (g) 9.413 in 1998 have been revised due to later information.
	Notes:
	1. The data have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear as the sum of their parts.
	3. Data less than 5 are suppressed and replaced by ''.

Afghanistan

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British forces are undertaking in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: The bulk of the United Kingdom's military forces in Afghanistan serve with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They help to maintain security in Kabul, and, through our Provincial Reconstruction Teams, aid the expansion of the Afghan Government's authority across the north-west of the country and facilitate Security Sector Reform and reconstruction. Separately, we have deployed a detachment of six Harrier GR7 aircraft to Kandahar to provide Close Air Support and aerial reconnaissance to both coalition and ISAF forces. Finally, we provide staff officers to support the coalition headquarters in Kabul.

Armed Forces (Ethnic Minorities)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) male and (b) female soldiers from ethnic minorities are serving in each of the armed services.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 October 2004 the estimated 1 number of armed forces personnel 2 from ethnic minority backgrounds was as follows:
	
		
			 Service Male Female Total 
		
		
			 Naval Service 870 120 990 
			 Army 7,280 770 8,060 
			 Royal Air Force 1,150 170 1,310 
			 All services 9,300 1,060 10,360 
		
	
	(1) Figures provided are full coverage estimates which show the number of ethnic minorities that would be expected if ethnicity were known for all personnel.
	(2) Figures are for UK regular forces (including both trained and untrained personnel), and therefore excludes Gurkhas, full time reserve service personnel, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and naval activated reservists.
	All figures include both officers and other ranks and are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used totals may not equal the sum of the parts.

Christmas Deployment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the three services he expects to be (a) serving abroad and (b) deployed on front-line duties between 24 December and 2 January 2005; what percentage of the trained strength of each force this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The following table gives the numbers of personnel on Operations as at 20 December 2004, and the numbers serving overseas, but not on operations as at 1 December 2004. It is not anticipated that the figure for personnel deployed on operations will change significantly over the Christmas period. The numbers of personnel serving overseas, but not on operations, is likely to be significantly smaller over the Christmas period, as personnel in Germany and Cyprus, for example, may chose to take their leave back in the UK.
	
		
			 Service Number deployed on Operations Number serving overseas not on operations Percentage of trained strength 
		
		
			 Naval Service 1,200 450 4.5 
			 Army 7,850 19,200 26 
			 Royal Air Force 1,750 3,200 10e

Christmas Deployment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he has made to ensure that those members of the armed forces serving abroad and deployed on front-line duties between 24 December and 2 January 2005 are able to maintain family contact over that period; and if he will make statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 December 2004
	Personnel deployed on operations are supported by either the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) or by Local Overseas Allowance (LOA). The vast majority of personnel serving overseas, receive the OWP. The OWP provides 20 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week. This amount will be supplemented by a further 20 minutes for the Christmas week. In addition, personnel may purchase unlimited additional time through a standing arrangement with the service provider. Furthermore, under the OWP personnel are entitled to free internet access, which includes the ability to send and receive e-mails. Personnel serving in locations where the OWP has been granted receive free aerogrammes ('blueys') delivered by the British Forces Post Office (BFPO). A concessionary rate postal service also exists for letters and packets weighing up to 2kg sent from the UK mainland or BFPO addresses. Lastly, between 17 November and 15 December 2004, family members were entitled to send, free of charge, an unlimited number of packets weighing up to 2kg to Service personnel serving in overseas operational theatres.
	LOA is a non-taxable allowance designed to meet the additional costs associated with communication (both verbal and written) from distant or remote locations not covered by OWP arrangements. The LOA reflects the actual costs of such communications from the location concerned.

Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by his Department.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 December 2004, the Ministry of Defence held 14,174 Government Procurement Cards, 2,026 Corporate Barclaycards and 3,630 American Express Corporate Cards.

Death in Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) regulations and (b) procedures are applicable in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force, following the death in service of individual personnel aged under 18 years of age, governing contacting (A) next of kin and (B) parents.

Adam Ingram: The three Services have similar casualty notification regulations and procedures. All Service personnel complete an Emergency Contact form in which they nominate the person or persons to be contacted initially in the event of death or serious injury. In the case of under-18s this would usually be the parents although the choice rests with the individual. In the event of death of an under-18, should the individual have nominated an Emergency Contact who is not the next of kin, the Services would always ensure additionally that the next of kin is informed. The Services aim to inform next of kin and nominated contacts as swiftly and as sensitively as possible.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency's (DARA) turnover in 200304 came from (a) his Department and (b) the private sector; and for what reasons this information was not included in DARA's 200304 Annual Report and Accounts (HC 699, 200304).

Adam Ingram: holding answer 21 December 2004
	DARA's turnover for 200304 can be analysed by customer as follows:
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 Contracts directly with the MOD 160,188 
			 Contracts with the Private Sector where the ultimate customer is the MOD 28,677 
			 Contracts with the Private Sector where the ultimate customer is a third party 673 
			 Total turnover 189,538 
		
	
	The only analyses of turnover that are required to be shown in the Accounts are to give a breakdown by business and geographical segment where appropriate. Note 2 to the Accounts explained that 'substantially all of the turnover relates to the same class of business' and therefore no further breakdowns were required.

Dentistry

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost of dental provision for a serviceman in (a) the UK, (b) Germany and (c) Cyprus was in the last period for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: The average cost of dental provision for a serviceman in the UK is 215.69 per person based on the current patient at risk (PAR) population. The Defence Dental Agency provides dental care to a mixture of personnel in Germany and Cyprus, which includes dependents and entitled civilians, as well as service personnel. It is not possible to separately identify the discreet costs of treating service personnel alone in those countries, except at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last two years.

Ivor Caplin: Since 200001 the Ministry of Defence has reported aggregated utilities (gas, electricity and water supply) expenditure in the departmental resources and accounts. Separate energy costs are not collated. Expenditure on utilities is published in the National Statistics Publication: UK Defence Statistics 2004: Table 1.8a Defence Expenditure Outturn in the UK by Industry Group. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Equipment

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost was to his Department of equipment purchased from other members of the European Union in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: Identifying work on equipment (including development and manufacture) which is purchased from other members of the European Union is complicated by internationally collaborative tasks (e.g. Typhoon), joint venture companies and international companies.
	Estimates of expenditure paid by the Department (excluding its Trading Fund Agencies) for the last five years are provided in the following table. These estimates are compiled from location of work information associated with individual contractual payment data made by the Defence Bills Agency and EU partner work shares on international collaborative projects.
	
		 million (in current prices)
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 19992000 670 
			 200001 860 
			 200102 830 
			 200203 1,020 
			 200304 1,000 
		
	
	The numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 million and are inclusive of non-recoverable VAT.
	In 200102 the Department introduced Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) moving from the cash system that employed Internal Account Codes (IACs). Systems were still in transition in 200203. In 200304 Resource Accounting Codes (RACs) were fully implemented throughout the MOD systems. The move from IACs to RACs changes the method for identifying equipment spends and causes a break in the time series.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of refurbishments in his Department was in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Ivor Caplin: Refurbishment is not a term which the Ministry of Defence uses in gathering or recording financial information about the estate, as it can be regarded as capital or maintenance expenditure depending on the circumstances. Work on buildings which might be categorised as refurbishment can range from minor modifications and maintenance, to the complete restoration of buildings, and the replacement of machinery such as lifts. Historic information is not held centrally or on a consistent basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Ivor Caplin: The Department's building assets are listed at Chapter 7 of the 2001 National Asset Register which is maintained by HM Treasury and which is freely available on their website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/135/OB/217.pdf.
	Since 2001 there have been some 80 major disposals which are set out in the table below. In addition to freehold buildings, the Ministry of Defence also has in the order of 220 agreements to occupy buildings and parts of buildings. The above excludes housing.
	The floor area of the Department's buildings was last calculated for the year 2002 and is now estimated to be in the order of 26 million/m 2 .
	
		Major disposals 200102 to date
		
			  
		
		
			 Burscough depot 200102 
			 Stirling Lines, Hereford 200102 
			 RAF Burtonwood (phases) 200102 
			 Rogers House pay office, Ashton under Lyne 200102 
			 76 Newton Street Manchester 200102 
			 TA centre Knightsbridge Newcastle (phases) 200102 
			 Ypres Barracks Macclesfield 200102 
			 TA centre Lumley Barracks York 200102 
			 Borehamwood, Elstree Factory 200102 
			 Cardinqton 200102 
			 Chilwell, pt Chetwynd Bks 200102 
			 Hilton Joint Venture 200102 
			 Rosyth, Torridon Lane, Dr., PI, Grampian PI,  Ct. Road 200102 
			 Dunalister House/Laverockdale cottage/polo fields 200102 
			 Arbroath, 2 to 20 (even) Hunter Road, 2 to 12 (even) Leach CL  Southern CL 200102 
			 EdinburghPolton Estate 200102 
			 Steeple Barracks, Antrim 200102 
			 RAF Mansion 200102 
			 RD Thatcham 200102 
			 St. George's Court 200102 
			 TACBrighton 200102 
			 Tolworth 200102 
			 TAC Whitefield Road, Bristol 200102 
			 St. Budeaux 52 MQs 200102 
			 Frater Metal Tents 200102 
			 Sutton ColdfieldSt. Georges BksTA 200102 
			 Locking 200102 
			 Aston Down 200102 
			 Arras Lines Catterick Garrison 200203 
			 Little Roodee MQs 200203 
			 RAF Burtonwood (PHASES) 200203 
			 Hilton JV 200203 
			 Watton USVF MQs Phase 1 (20 units) 200203 
			 Watton USVF MQs Phase 2 (15 units) 200203 
			 Watton USVF MQs Phase 3 (39 units) 200203 
			 Pease Hill Development Site 200203 
			 Helensburgh Churchill Estate (50) 200203 
			 Forres MQsPilmuir Estate (60) 200203 
			 Glasgow, Wellesley House 200203 
			 Farnborough AerodromeTAC Lease 200203 
			 Queen Elizabeth Bks, Church Crookham 200203 
			 Rushgrove St. Woolwich 200203 
			 TAC Slough 200203 
			 TAC Cobham 200203 
			 TAC East Ham 200203 
			 TAC Finchley 200203 
			 TAC Heston 200203 
			 HMS Mercury-Leydene 200203 
			 Land at Wyvern Barracks (North Site) 200203 
			 Portsdown Main 200203 
			 RNCF Holton Heath 200203 
			 ABRO Ashford Barracks (cash in 3 Tranches AP1, AP1 2 and AP1 1(0304) 200203 
			 Peel Circus Corsham 200203 
			 Stafford Site 3 200304 
			 Kitchener House ACF, Lammascote Road 200304 
			 Gilwern House Chester (Land  House) 200304 
			 Deysbrook Barracks Liverpool 200304 
			 St. Athan 200304 
			 Chicksands pt 200304 
			 Wyton MQsSomerset Road 200304 
			 Stiles Way Antrim 200304 
			 Rosyth, 250 (evens) 1323 (odds) Grampian Road 200304 
			 RE Lines/St. Lucia 200304 
			 Hayes Repository PPP 200304 
			 Hospital Hill Aldershot Health Ctr Site 200304 
			 RAF Manston 200304 
			 Staff College Bracknell (tranches to Feb 2009) 200304 
			 Highwood Bks TAG Dulwich 200304 
			 TAG Centre Gillingham 200304 
			 TAG Greenhithe 200304 
			 19 USAF Properties  5 Langton 200304 
			 SEF, Exeter 200304 
			 StirlingDrip Camp 200405 
			 Longcross Bksbalance 200405 
			 RAF West Drayton 200405 
			 Alma Dettingen 200405 
			 TAC Dulwich 200405 
			 Long Marston 200405 
			 TAC St. Albans 200405 
			 Edinburgh TAG Chesser Crescent 200405 
		
	
	Information on vacant property is not held centrally nor in the form requested and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, a list of the Department's surplus property is regularly placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women there are in senior positions in his Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. These include data on the number of women in senior positions in Departments.
	The latest available information at April 2004 is available in the Library and on the civil service website at the following addresses. http://www. civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_ information/statistics/publications/xls/gender_apr04_ 4nov04.xls.
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/ publications/xls/disability_apr04_4nov04.xls.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Ivor Caplin: The policy on the retention of e-mails both before and after 1 January 2005 is that those which need to be kept should be saved into departmental records systems, either electronically or on paper. Those e-mails which do not need to be kept should be disposed of regularly to avoid overloading mailboxes. No central instructions have been given on the deletion of e-mails in relation to 1 January 2005.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which his Department's policies meet the needs of ethnic minorities.

Ivor Caplin: A comprehensive assessment of the policies and practices of the Ministry of Defence regarding ethnic minorities, together with our future objectives, is set out in the Department's Race Equality Scheme published in May 2002. There have since been two progress reports published in 2003 and 2004. The scheme and both progress reports are available on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk/issues/racial_equality/index.html. Copies of both reports are available in the Library of the House.
	We are in the process of reviewing the scheme in accordance with the legislative deadline of 31 May 2005 in order to replace it following the publication of the third and final progress report in 2005.
	We are also currently in the process of piloting an equality proofing tool prior to making it available across the Department as a whole.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department were employed to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Ivor Caplin: In the Head Office policy directorate the number of permanent staff employed on Freedom of Information work in previous years, in 2004, and currently budgeted for future years, is as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of staff 
		
		
			 2001 3 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 10 
			 2005 12 
			 2006 12 
		
	
	'FOI Focal Points' have been set up across the Department to help raise awareness of and oversee preparations for FOI. However, this has not involved the employment of dedicated new FOI staff. In addition, it is potentially the role of all civilians and armed forces personnel in the Department to respond to FOI requests for information.

Gulf War Illnesses

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a fund from which to make ex gratia payments on a pro-rata basis to all those veterans of the first Gulf war who have made successful claims to be suffering from Gulf war-related illnesses.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 137172W to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr. Hancock).

Gulf War Illnesses

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reassess the claims of those Gulf war veterans whose claims to be suffering from Gulf war-related illnesses have been rejected.

Ivor Caplin: As I announced on 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 354, the Ministry of Defence will investigate the 100 or so rejected cases involving Gulf-related illness, where they can be identified.

Gulf War Illnesses

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to refer to the symptoms with which veterans of the first Gulf war are suffering as gulf war syndrome.

Ivor Caplin: Specific diseases, disorders, or medical conditions and medical syndromes each have common features such as a set of physical signs and/or symptoms that distinguish them from other medical conditions. Gulf veterans do not present with an identifiable and distinct pattern of symptoms or signs.
	The consensus of the international scientific and medical community following extensive research on the matter is that there is insufficient evidence to enable the ill-health reported by 199091 Gulf veterans to be characterised as a unique Gulf related illness or syndrome.
	The Medical Research Council came to the same conclusion in their report published in May 2003 following their independent scientific review of all the UK research work carried out into Gulf veterans' illnesses. We do not, therefore, refer to the symptoms reported as being Gulf war syndrome.

Gym Provision

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many gyms are available to the staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently 273 gyms recorded in the Ministry of Defence's Defence Property Gazetteer. Information about the cost of providing them is not held centrally nor in a form which can be made available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Infantry Battalions

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the approved strength and (b) the actual strength of each of the infantry battalions.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 6 December 2004
	The establishment and strength (as at November 2004) of each of the 38 British infantry battalions (i.e. excluding the Gurkhas) are as shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Battalion Establishment Strength 
		
		
			 The Guards Division   
			 1 Grenadier Guards 560 650 
			 1 Coldstream Guards 585 660 
			 1 Scots Guards 620 620 
			 1 Irish Guards 560 515 
			 1 Welsh Guards 560 545 
			 The Scottish Division   
			 1 Royal Scots 560 480 
			 1 Royal Highland Fusiliers 560 515 
			 1 King's Own Scottish Borderers 560 490 
			 1 Black Watch 605 545 
			 1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 580 485 
			 1 Highlanders 620 490 
			 The Queen's Division   
			 1 Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 620 615 
			 2 Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 560 550 
			 1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 620 585 
			 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 560 530 
			 1 Royal Anglian Regiment 585 565 
			 2 Royal Anglian Regiment 560 550 
			 The King's Division   
			 1 King's Own Royal Border Regiment 560 500 
			 1 King's Regiment 620 540 
			 1 Prince of Wale's Own Regiment 585 575 
			 1 Green Howards 560 510 
			 1 Queen's Lancashire Regiment 560 565 
			 1 Duke of Wellington's Regiment 620 515 
			 The Prince of Wales's Division   
			 1 Devonshire and Dorset Regiment 585 540 
			 1 Cheshire Regiment 585 505 
			 1 Royal Welch Fusiliers 585 550 
			 1 Royal Regiment of Wales 620 585 
			 Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment 560 545 
			 1 Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment 560 505 
			 1 Staffordshire Regiment 620 540 
			 The Light Division   
			 1 Light Infantry 620 520 
			 2 Light Infantry 560 530 
			 1 Royal Green Jackets 560 535 
			 2 Royal Green Jackets 560 530 
			 The Parachute Regiment   
			 1 Para 580 570 
			 2 Para 580 540 
			 3 Para 580 540 
			 The Royal Irish Regiment   
			 1 Royal Irish Regiment 560 500 
		
	
	The establishment figures refer to the number of posts within a battalion that may be filled by infantry personnel (officers and soldiers). Therefore, it excludes posts that are filled by attached personnel of other Arms and Services such as chefs, clerks, etc. Establishments will also vary depending on the particular role of a battalion; for example, armoured infantry battalions have larger establishments than light role infantry battalions. The figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	The strength figures refer to actual numbers of trained infantry personnel within a battalion. The data was collected on 1 November 2004 and has been rounded to the nearest five. To allow for direct comparison with the establishment, figures on strength do not include officers and soldiers who are posted to the battalion but who are serving away from the battalion, nor personnel from other Arms and Services who are attached to the battalion. Figures are for the 35 Line Battalions and 3 Para Battalions. The two Gurkha Battalions have been excluded.
	The excess in strength compared to establishment for the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards is accounted for by the Public Duty Company currently attached to each of these battalions.

Iraq (Territorial Army)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the Territorial Army on the length of their tours of duty in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: I am unaware of direct representations to Ministers from TA personnel on the length of their tours of duty in Iraq, although several requests have been received from reservists wishing to extend their tours of duty on other overseas operations and in one or two instances representations have been made by Members of the House.

IT (Disciplinary Procedures)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: Information is not held centrally on the number of Ministry of Defence staff that have received official warnings following minor disciplinary breaches of IT policy, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The number of MOD civilians that have faced disciplinary procedures following major disciplinary breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 5 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 2

Lost/Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the property belonging to his Department that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article.

Ivor Caplin: Reported cases of stolen property are held centrally on a summary basis only and relate to suspected theft by Crown Personnel of stores and equipment. Cases are not recorded or grouped by property type and are often recorded, especially in respect of lower value items, as multiples or combinations of items such as tools, clothing, foodstuffs etc. Providing a response in the form requested and for the period concerned could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Manning/Record Offices

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in the Army's manning and records offices, broken down by area and location.

Ivor Caplin: The Army's manning and records offices collocated in Glasgow between December 1996 and July 1997, to become part of the Army Personnel Centre (APC). The APC employs a total of 884 staff (164 military and 720 civilian personnel) in three business areas: the Manning and Career Management Division, Chief of Staff and Civil Secretariat. With the exception of six staff in London, all APC personnel are based in Kentigern House, Glasgow.

Medals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which (a) campaigns and (b) wars, medals were issued in each of the last five years; which medals were made of (i) silver and (ii) cupro-nickel; and how many were made in each case.

Ivor Caplin: The following British medals have been instituted for campaign service since the end of the Second World War. It is not possible to determine how many of each medal has been issued, as such information has not been recorded.
	
		
			 Medal Clasp Metal 
		
		
			 Campaign Service   
			 Naval General Service Medal 191562 S.E. Asia Silver 
			  Minesweeping 194551  
			  Palestine 194548  
			  Bomb and Mine Clearance 194553  
			  Bomb and Mine Clearance 194546  
			  Bomb and Mine Clearance Mediterranean  
			  Malaya  
			  Yangtze 1949  
			  Canal Zone  
			  Cyprus  
			  Near East  
			  Arabian Peninsula  
			  Brunei  
			  Brunei  
			 General Service Medal 191862 S.E. Asia 194546 Silver 
			  Palestine 194548  
			  Bomb and Mine Clearance 194549  
			  Bomb and Mine Clearance 194556  
			  Malaya  
			  Canal Zone  
			  Cyprus  
			  Near East  
			  Arabian Peninsula  
			  Brunei  
			 Africa General Service Medal Kenya Silver 
			 General Service Medal 1962 Borneo Silver 
			  Radfan  
			  South Arabia  
			  Malay Peninsula  
			  South Vietnam  
			  Northern Ireland  
			  Dhofar  
			  Lebanon  
			  Mine Clearance  
			  Gulf  
			  Kuwait  
			  Northern Iraq and Southern Turkey  
			  Air Operations Iraq  
			 Accumulated Campaign Service Medal  Silver 
			 Operational Service MedalSierra Leone  Silver 
			 Operational Service MedalAfghanistan  Silver 
			 War Service   
			 Korea Medal  Cupro-nickel 
			 South Atlantic Medal  Cupro-nickel 
			 Gulf Medal  Cupro-nickel 
			 Iraq Medal  Cupro-nickel

Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Project

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project to complete its concept phase.

Adam Ingram: The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project is currently in transition from the concept phase to the assessment phase. The timing is being considered in the Department's current planning round.

Napalm

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 6 December 204, Official Report, column 339W, on napalm, whether substances similar to napalm have been used by the Coalition (a) during and (b) since the recent war in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The UK has not used napalm (or similar substances) during or since the end of decisive combat operations in Iraq. Furthermore, the US has confirmed that they also have not used napalm (or similar substances) during or since the end of decisive combat operations in Iraq.

Nimrod MRA4

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Nimrod MRA4 to be fully in service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Nimrod MRA4 Design and Development contract is progressing with the first flight of the second aircraft, PA2, having taken place on 15 December. However, the way ahead for this project is subject to industry demonstrating satisfactory performance at acceptable prices. The in service date for the aircraft is 2009.

Official Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence's policy on archiving records is that those required for medium to long term use and possible permanent preservation or those for which there is no storage space locally, should be archived. This policy has not been reviewed in the last 12 months, although some changes have been required in terms of its practical implementation due to changes in archive storage provision. The policy on the use of shredders follows central Government guidelines and relates to the type of shredder required securely to destroy documents with particular levels of sensitivity. This policy has also not been reviewed in the last 12 months.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Ivor Caplin: On 21 December 2004 there were 17 press officers employed in the Ministry of Defence's central press office in London.
	This figure relates solely to those press officers employed in the Department's central press office in London. The information does not include those employed as press officers in Regional Press Offices, Defence Agencies, the Permanent Joint Headquarters, single Service Commands or at unit level, some of whom have a press officer task in addition to their main role. Accurate information on this is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Provisions (Beef)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage by weight of beef supply contracts for his Department and its agencies for each year since 1997 were sourced from (a) British and (b) Scottish herds.

Ivor Caplin: During the period 19972001, 54 per cent. of the beef purchased for consumption by the armed forces in the United Kingdom was sourced from Britain. Of that total, 40 per cent. came from Scottish Herds.
	During the period 200204,46 per cent. of the beef purchased for consumption by the armed forces in UK was sourced from Britain. Of that total, 70 per cent. came from Scottish Herds.

Regular Reserve

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the regular reserve have (a) received statutory notice of compulsory mobilisation and (b) been accepted into mobilised service for operations overseas since 1998.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 16 December 2004
	No Royal Fleet Reserve personnel have been mobilised for operations overseas since 1998.
	Since 1998, the RAF has only mobilised regular reservists in 2003 to support Operation TELIC. 511 call-out notices were served on members of the RAF ex-regular reserve of which 165 individuals were accepted into mobilised service. Expressed as a percentage 1.3 per cent. of the RAF ex-regular reserve was served with a call-out notice of which 0.4 per cent. of the RAF ex-regular reserve were accepted into service.
	For the Army the figures requested cannot be compiled without resorting to a manual trawl or records and personnel files. This could be completed only at disproportionate cost.

Staff Numbers

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Defence Academy, (ii) Defence Estates, (iii) Dep Chief Defence Staff (Commitments), (iv) Director Special Forces, (v) Defence Geographic and Imaging Intelligence Agency, (vi) Veterans Agency, (vii) Dep Chief Defence Staff (Personnel), (viii) Defence Dental Agency and (ix) Defence Housing Executive management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(2)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (ii) Policy Director, (iii) Dep Chief Defence Staff (Equipment Capability), (iv) Chief of Defence Intelligence, (v) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (vi) Defence Medical Services Department and (vii) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(3)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Internal Costs, (ii) Programme Account and (iii) Nuclear management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(4)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Flag Officer Training and Recruiting, (ii) HQ and (iii) Naval Secretary management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(5)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Army Personnel Centre, (ii) Army Training and Recruitment Agency, (iii) Service Children's Education and (iv) Primary Health Care management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(6)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Adjutant General, (ii) Army Programme, (iii) General Staff, (iv) QVS and (v) DYRMS management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(7)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Personnel Management Agency, (ii) Core HQ and (iii) Training Group Defence Agency management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(8)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Fleet, (ii) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), (iii) Command Field Army, (iv) Joint Helicopter Command, (v) Land Support and (vi) Command Regional Forces management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(9)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) 1 Group, (ii) 2 Group, (iii) 3 Group and (iv) Deputy Commander-in-Chief management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(10)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) British Forces Cyprus, (ii) British Forces Gibraltar, (iii) Permanent Joint Headquarters, (iv) Sovereign Base Areas Administration and (v) British Forces Falkland Islands management groups was in financial year 200304;
	(11)  what the average number of (a) military and (b) civilian full-time equivalent staff employed by the (i) Defence Fuels Group, (ii) Defence Communication Services Agency, (iii) DG Equipment Support (Land), (iv) DG Equipment Support (Air) and (v) Defence Transport and Movements Agency management groups was in financial year 200304.

Ivor Caplin: The available information on numbers of military and civilian personnel analysed by budgetary grouping and Defence Agency for 200304 is contained in tables 2.2 and 2.6 of United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2003 and 2004, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Swan Hunter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision not to assist Swan Hunter with the overrun in budget to build the Largs Bay and Lyme Bay vessels at its Wallsend yard; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Government's decision on how to deal with the delays and cost overruns in the design and construction of these vessels will be based on consideration of value for money. The Royal Navy has a continuing requirement for these ships and our assessments so far suggest that the best value for money would be offered by re-negotiating our contract with Swan Hunter; so it is not true to say at this stage that we are not prepared to assist the company. However, the detailed discussions we are having with Swan Hunter and with BAE Systemswhich is building the two follow-on vesselsremain commercially sensitive and I am therefore withholding any further information in accordance with Exemption 7a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Travel Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Youth Organisations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future funding arrangements for youth and cadet organisations sponsored by his Department in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence will continue to fund and support the youth and cadet organisations in the UK. All cadet organisations are funded using the normal Ministry of Defence financial planning procedures, which take account of operational priorities, competing programmes and resources available. The Sea Cadets also receive other funds independent of the Ministry of Defence by virtue of their status as a registered charity.

CABINET OFFICE

Abandoned Vehicles (Morecambe Bay)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Duchy of Lancaster has responsibility for the removal of abandoned vehicles on the sands of Morecambe Bay.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Duchy of Lancaster office does not have responsibility for the removal of abandoned vehicles on Morecambe Bay sands.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many hours of the Department's staff time were taken up in preparation of Christmas cards in 2004.

David Miliband: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. Cabinet Office Communication Group, have responsibility for co-ordinating and ordering all departmental Christmas cards, but individuals are responsible for completing and despatching them.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many of the Department's staff have responsibility for preparing Christmas cards.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office's Communication Group co-ordinates and orders the departmental Christmas card. This role is part of the normal workload for one member of staff.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of the Department's official Christmas cards included a contribution to charity in their cost; and which charities benefited from such a contribution.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office has one official Christmas card, which has included in the cost a contribution to the charity WaterAid. WaterAid receives between 15p and 25p for every Christmas card sold.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of postage was for the Department's official Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

David Miliband: The costs for postage for the Departmental Christmas card are not held centrally. Items posted by the Department normally go by 2nd Class Post. The Department also makes use of other cost effective distribution options such as the Internal Distribution Service (IDS).

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost was of purchasing the Department's official Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

David Miliband: The cost of purchasing the official departmental Christmas card in 2003 was 3,599.03 for 4,100 cards. The cost of purchasing the official departmental Christmas card in 2004 was 5,505.00 for 5,200 cards. Both prices included VAT at 17.5 per cent. The expenditure incurred in the purchase and postage of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many official Christmas cards were sent out by the Department in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

David Miliband: The Department ordered 4,100 cards in 2003 and 5,200 cards in 2004.

Civil Contingencies Secretariat

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

David Miliband: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) was set up in 2001 to improve the UK's resilience against disruptive challenges, working in partnership with others at the national, regional and local levels to enhance arrangements for anticipating, assessing, preventing, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all types of disruptive challenge.
	The CCS drives the delivery of improved resilience across the Government and the public sector by making sure that the Government can continue to function and deliver public services during a crisis. It achieves this through risk assessment and horizon-scanning activity to identify and assess potential and imminent disruptive challenges to the domestic UK, and by working with others to improve the capability of all levels of Government, the wider public sector and the private and voluntary sectors to manage potential challenges.
	A key focus of the CCS's work in 2004 has been the Civil Contingencies Act. This, along with its non-statutory measures, delivers a single statutory framework for civil protection in the UK by enhancing arrangements at the local and regional level, and providing an up to date Emergency Powers framework. protection in the UK by enhancing arrangements at the local and regional level, and providing an up to date Emergency Powers framework.

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of contributions to the Civil Service Premium Scheme went towards pension entitlement in the last period for which figures are available.

David Miliband: Employees who are members of the Premium Scheme make contributions of 3.5 per cent. of pensionable pay. Employers meet the balance of the cost. Employers' contributions currently average 13.3 per cent. Following a quadrennial review by the Scheme Actuary, employers' contributions are being increased and in 200506 will average 18.5 per cent. of pensionable pay.
	The Premium Scheme was introduced in October 2002 and is part of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Some 18 per cent. of members are in Premium, 79 per cent. in Classic and 3 per cent. in Classic Plus. Employer contributions are the same for all three schemes. Employee contributions are 1.5 per cent. for Classic and 3.5 per cent. for the other schemes.

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many retired civil servants are in receipt of a pension; and what the total cost was in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: There were 418,000 retired civil servants in receipt of a pension at 31 March 2004. Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme payments to retired civil servants totalled 2,338 million in 200304.

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil service (a) widows and (b) widowers are in receipt of a civil service pension of less than (i) 1,000 and (ii) 2,000 per annum.

David Miliband: The information on Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme payments is shown in the table.
	
		
			 31 March 2004 Widows Widowers 
		
		
			 Number receiving under 1,000 a year 34,200 3,600 
			 Number receiving 1,000 to 1,999.99 a year 30,100 1,400

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many retired civil servants are in receipt of a Civil Service pension of less than (a) 1,000 and (b) 2,000 per annum.

David Miliband: The information on Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme payments is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 As at March 2004 Retired employees 
		
		
			 Number receiving under 1,000 a year 45,600 
			 Number receiving 1,000 to 1,999.99 a year 66,400

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil service (a) widows and (b) widowers are in receipt of a civil service pension; and what the cost was in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: There were 121,000 widows and 6,000 widowers in receipt of a civil service pension at 31 March 2004. Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme payments to widows and widowers totalled 328.7 million in 200304.

Conferences

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many conferences were (a) attended by officials from the Cabinet Office, (b) cancelled by and (c) facilitated by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997; and what the (i) cost to the Cabinet Office and (ii) location was in each case.

David Miliband: The information requested is not held centrally. To obtain the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by the Cabinet Office.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office use two types of credit card for official expenditure. The Government Procurement Card (GPC), which has been in use within the Department since May 2002, and the Corporate Card, which has been in use since September 2000. Currently there are 16 active GPC card holders and nine Corporate card holders.
	All official credit card expenditure is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by the Office and which took place on non-Office premises in each of the last two years giving the (i) title, (ii) purpose, (iii) date and (iv) cost of each.

David Miliband: The information requested is not held centrally. To obtain the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the cost of (a) new builds, (b) demolition rebuilds and (c) private finance initiative projects in the Office in each of the last two years.

David Miliband: The Emergency Planning College (Easingwold) has spent around 400,000 in 200203 and around 4 million in 200304 on new builds.
	It is estimated that since May 2002, the CMPS's Residential Learning and Development Centre (Sunningdale) Public Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative partner has spent around 12 million on demolition, new builds and building and site enhancements at Sunningdale Park.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis to the Office in each of the last two years.

David Miliband: I have asked Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to this Department in 200304. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and will be printed in the Official Report.
	The amount used on taxis in the financial year 200203 was 354,284.95.
	In 200304 a number of changes were made to the accounting system in order to rationalise the number of accounts and details of taxi costs ceased to be held centrally.
	All official travel in the Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code.
	Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. John Bercow, dated 10 January 2005
	The Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to various government departments.
	The figures for 200304 are as follows:
	
		
			  Department Number of cars Annual contracted value () 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 8 472,100 
			 DCA 4 230,400 
			 DCMS 4 235,600 
			 DEFRA 5 286,000 
			 DfES 7 384,900 
			 DFID 2 107,600 
			 DfT 4 232,200 
			 DTI 5 275,500 
			 DWP 6 339,400 
			 FCO 4 214,500 
			 DoH 6 425,200 
			 HM Treasury 5 295,400 
			 Home Office 7 408,900 
			 Law Officers 2 106,400 
			 NIO 5 362,600 
			 ODPM 6 321,800 
			 Privy Council 1 56,000 
			 Scotland Office 1 49,200 
			 Wales Office 2 130,100 
			 Total 84 4,933,800 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Northern Ireland Office (NIO) figures include costs for two temporary Ministers while the Northern Ireland Assembly is suspended.
	2. Cabinet Office figures include cars at the Prime Minister's Office, the Leader of the House of Lords, the Commons Chief Whip and the Minister without Portfolio.
	3. The Government Car Service no longer provides services to the Ministry of Defence.
	Information for 200203 is shown in the attached table. This information was originally provided in response to a Parliamentary Question to the hon. Member for Arundel  South Downs (Mr Flight). A copy of my letter to him is also enclosed. Corresponding information for the Law Officers for 200203 (which was not included in the reply to Mr Flight) is also included in this table.
	Information about a number of vehicles used within Government is not disclosed under Exemption l(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on the grounds that its disclosure could harm national security.
	
		200203
		
			 Department Number of cars Annual contracted value () 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 8 440,800 
			 ODPM 6 333,600 
			 DCMS 4 230,500 
			 DfES 6 317,000 
			 DFID 2 92,200 
			 DTI 6 321,700 
			 FCO 5 258,000 
			 Department of Health 6 325,500 
			 HM Treasury 5 285,800 
			 Home Office 7 399,900 
			 Lord Chancellor's Department 4 233,200 
			 Law Officers 2 105,900 
			 MOD 1 63,000 
			 Northern Ireland Office 4 205,100 
			 Privy Council Office 2 120,800 
			 Scotland Office 2 100,400 
			 Wales Office 2 127,200 
			 DEFRA 5 285,900 
			 DfT 3 173,700 
			 DWP 6 328,600 
			 Total 86 4,748,800

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on energy costs incurred by the Office in each of the last two years.

David Miliband: Energy costs incurred by the Cabinet Office in each of the last two years are shown in the table.
	
		
			  SpendTotal all fuels () 
		
		
			 200203 1,066,030 
			 200304 1,092,469 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office reduced its total energy consumption in 200304. The increase in spend for that year was due to increases in electricity and heating fuel prices which more than outweighed a substantial reduction in consumption.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by the Office in each of the last two years.

David Miliband: Excluding the Civil Service College's site at Sunningdale Park, the Cabinet Office spent 14,647,629 on building refurbishment in 200203 and 7,600,684 in 200304.
	A Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership in relation to the Civil Service College's Sunningdale Park site commenced on 13 May 2002. From that date, the College's private sector partner has spent around 12 million on an overall investment plan. This has included expenditure on refurbishment projects.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of refurbishing each Ministerial Private Office was in the last two years.

David Miliband: During 200304 the Ministerial Private Office of the Minister for the Cabinet Offices underwent repair and redecoration at a cost of 11,980.
	No refurbishment works were undertaken in 200203.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the total external spending by the Office was on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by the Office over this period; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total external spending by the Office was on public-private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by the Office over this period; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office has not used any consultants in connection with private finance initiative (PFI) projects in 200304 or 200405.
	The Cabinet Office has not incurred consultancy costs in connection with other public private partnership (PPP) activities.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for Duchy administrative staff in each of the last two years.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster is not responsible for the cost or provision of a ministerial car or driver to the post of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
	For information for the periods 200203 and 200304, I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office today.
	The cost of taxis to the Duchy of Lancaster is included within the travel costs itemised in the Duchy's accounts, copies of which are available in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost of refurbishing his ministerial private office was in each of the last two years.

Alan Milburn: Responsibility for the ministerial private office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster rests with the Cabinet Office.
	I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office today.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on entertainment by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

David Miliband: Details of the Department's spend on entertainment in each year since 1997 are shown in the following table.
	
		 thousand
		
			  Entertainment expenditure 
		
		
			 199798 192 
			 199899 170 
			 19992000 276 
			 200001 277 
			 200102 254 
			 200203 307 
			 200304 381 
		
	
	Information breaking down the expenditure by the categories requested cannot be readily retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent by his office on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The available information on the cost of furniture for the Cabinet Office is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 200203 74,841.50 
			 200304 134,788 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide information for all of the Cabinet Office estate for previous years as this is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the costs of refurbishments in the Cabinet Office were in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

David Miliband: The costs of refurbishment of London offices of the Cabinet Office are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 199899 1,974,788 
			 19992000 1,470,524 
			 200001 28,082,638 
			 200102 35,994,741 
			 200203 26,559,481 
			 200304 11,216,534 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures include fees, furniture/office equipment and VAT.
	2. There was no expenditure in 199798
	There are no refurbishment projects currently in progress and none are planned to start in 200506. Other projects which are in the initial planning phase have yet to receive the go ahead and funding.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent by her Office on lighting in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The figure is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the effect of the coming into force of the European Constitution on the operation of the Department with reference to (a) changes in legislative competence, (b) the extension of qualified majority voting, (c) the increased legislative role of the European Parliament, (d) the cost of implementation of regulations, (e) the requirements of adherence to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and (f) the quantity of legislation originating in the EU institutions.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. MacShane) on Monday 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 10W.

Government Car Fleet

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of the Government car fleet was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) maintenance, (b) drivers, (c) taxes, (d) insurance, (e) fuel, (f) fines for traffic offences broken down by offence and (g) congestion charges.

David Miliband: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and will be printed in the Official Report.
	Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr George Osborne dated 10 January 2005
	The Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the costs of running the Government Car Service.
	In 200304 the Agency spent 505,000 on vehicle maintenance, 131,000 on vehicle insurance, 365,000 on fuel, 156,000 on the central London congestion charge and incurred 5,216,000 in drivers' salaries and associated costs. Vehicles in the Government Car Service are exempt from paying vehicle road licence fees.
	During 200304 the Government Car Service received 135 Parking Penalty Notices. Of these 60 were successfully challenged and 3,610 was paid in fines. GCDA will only pay parking fines where these have been incurred in the course of our operations. GCDA and its employees have no dispensation to break the law but parking restrictions within central London may make it impossible sometimes to deliver secure or sensitive documents to buildings or allow people with a high public profile to attend or leave buildings without putting themselves or secure documents at risk. In these cases GCDA will pay the fine.
	All our drivers are required to obey the law at all times whilst on duty and are held personally responsible for any speeding offences that they may commit. Consequently, the Agency has not been fined for, nor paid, any speeding offences.

Gyms

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many gyms are available to staff in the Department; and what the cost of providing them was in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The Department has a gym, situated in one of its buildings in Whitehall, which is available for the use of all staff. The Central Office of Information also provides gym facilities at its building in Lambeth for the use of its staff. In both cases accommodation and utilities are provided free, with all other costs being met by gym members. The cost to the Department for the provision accommodation and utilities are included in the overall budget and they are not separately identifiable.
	Gym facilities are provided at the Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS) Residential Learning and Development Centre in Sunningdale and at the Emergency Planning College (EPC) at Easingwold. Although primarily provided for use by those attending training courses, the facilities are also available to staff working at those sites. There is no direct cost to the Department from the provision of gym facilities at the CMPS Sunningdale site. The EPC does not cover its full costs and the specific shortfall from the provision of gym facilities could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office is fully committed to providing staff with pro-active occupational health policies and fully supports health awareness programmes as provided by the Department of Health.

Human Rights Act

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases have been brought against the Office under the Human Rights Act 1998; and what the cost has been in (a) legal fees to defend cases and (b) compensation payments.

David Miliband: No cases have been brought against the Cabinet Office or its agencies under the Human Rights Act 1998. It is possible there has been reliance on the Human Rights Act 1998 in cases against the Cabinet Office not themselves brought under the Human Rights Act but it would incur disproportionate costs to determine if this is so.

Ministerial Cars

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many ministerial cars are being operated by the Government Car Service; and if she will break down the fleet by (a) manufacturer, (b) model and (c) country of manufacture.

David Miliband: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and will be printed in the Official Report.
	Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr Oliver Heald dated 10 January 2005
	The Minister of State for the Cabinet Office has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of ministerial cars provided and their country of manufacture.
	The figures for 200304 are as follows:
	
		
			 Manufacturer Model Number Country of Manufacture 
		
		
			 Rover Rover 75 4 United Kingdom 
			  Rover 45 2 United Kingdom 
			 Jaguar Jaguar/Daimler 3 United Kingdom 
			 Ford Mondeo 47 Belgium 
			  Galaxy 2 Portugal 
			 Toyota Prius 2 Japan 
			 Vauxhall Omega 13 Germany 
			  Omega 1 Belgium 
			  Vectra 6 Germany 
			 Nissan Primera 2 United Kingdom 
			 Total  82

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what target her Department sets for the maximum time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of its parliamentary answers have failed to meet this target in each parliamentary Session from 199798 to 200304.

David Miliband: Departments aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their Named Day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer Ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but the Cabinet Office makes every effort to achieve these timescales.
	For information relating to the 200304 parliamentary Session up to April 2004, and the 200203 parliamentary Session, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which the then Minister for the Cabinet Office gave the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) on Monday 14 June 2003, Official Report, columns 70506W.
	The information requested for the 200304 parliamentary Session is shown in the tables.
	
		Named Day PQs
		
			  Total for Session 200304 
		
		
			 Number due for answer 81 
			 Number answered on day named 48 
			 Percentage answered on day named 59% 
		
	
	
		Ordinary Written PQs
		
			  Total for Session 200304 
		
		
			 Number due for answer 415 
			 Number answered within five working days 257 
			 Percentage answered within five working days 62%

Regulatory Impact Assessment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which regulations were not accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment in the measurement of the level of compliance with the Regulatory Impact Assessment process conducted by her Department in (a) December 2003 and (b) June.

David Miliband: Based on a snapshot of regulatory impact assessment (RIA) compliance in November 2003, and published on 16 December 2003, the level of compliance was 100 per cent.
	Based on a snapshot of RIA compliance in June 2004, and published on 22 July 2004, the level of compliance was 96 per cent. RIAs were missing at that time for proposals on identity cards and the Commission for Racial Equality's (CRE) Code of Practice on employment. An RIA for ID cards was subsequently published alongside the draft Bill on 29 November 2004. An RIA on the CRE's Code of Practice will be published when the Code is laid in Parliament in the New Year.
	Copies of all RIAs are available in the Library.

Security Passes

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many departmental security passes have been (a) lost and (b) stolen in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many instances of people attempting to use security passes that were recorded as lost or stolen have been recorded in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) gave to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1048W.
	The number of lost passes are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of lost passes 
		
		
			 2003 61 
			 2004 15 
		
	
	The number of stolen passes are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of stolen passes 
		
		
			 2003 10 
			 2004 31 
		
	
	No incidents have been recorded in this period of attempted use of lost or stolen passes.

Sickness Absence

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

David Miliband: Sick absence figures for the Cabinet Office are published annually in the report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based for the Cabinet Office . Copies of the latest report for 2003 are available in the Library. Reports for years 1999 to 2002 are available on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp#sickness.
	Cabinet Office is committed to managing sick absence effectively. It has in place robust procedures that are supported by comprehensive in house guidance and training for managers and individuals.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by his Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them;
	(2)  how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Alan Milburn: The Duchy of Lancaster office does not have any 0870 telephone numbers.

Telephone Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her policy is on the use of telephones in her Department by members of staff for personal (a) domestic and (b) international calls; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office permits the occasional and reasonable use of official telephones, except mobile telephones, for personal domestic calls. Personal use of official telephones for international calls is not permitted.

Telephone Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures she has taken to ensure that telephones in her Department are not used by staff for making unauthorised personal calls to international numbers.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office does not allow the personal use of telephones for international calls.
	Direct dialling of international calls is only permitted from specific extensions. International calls can only otherwise be made logging the call through the government operator.

Telephone Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated cost to her Department of unauthorised personal calls made by members of staff to (a) domestic and (b) international numbers was in the last period for which figures are available.

David Miliband: All call charges for domestic and international calls from fixed lines on the Cabinet Office estate are encompassed in a standard annual charge per extension irrespective of the number or destinations of calls made.

Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many publicly funded pay television subscriptions there are in official residences for which her Department is responsible; and what the cost is of each.

David Miliband: None.

PRIME MINISTER

Baghdad Visit

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Prime Minister on what day his Office chose 21 December as the date for his visit to Baghdad.

Tony Blair: Although discussions began earlier, the date for my visit to Baghdad was fixed in the second half of November.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Office's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Guilford (Sue Doughty) on 21 December, Official Report, column 1605W.

Foreign Press Articles

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 822W, on foreign press articles, if he will make it his policy that articles written by members of the United Kingdom Government are deposited in the Library.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 822W.

Home Secretary

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department had received his seal of office when he issued his two written ministerial statements concerning International Exercise and the case of A and Others and the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 16 December; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The formalities associated with Ministerial appointments, such as the receipt of a seal of office, are not relevant to the making of statements in the House. Her Majesty the Queen had approved the appointment.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 his special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Tony Blair: Information on the travel and accommodation for special advisers who accompanied me on overseas visits is included in the list of Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers 200203, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the attributable newspaper articles written by his special advisers in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 December 2004, Official Report, column 326W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister whether his special advisers have used official resources for party political activity.

Tony Blair: Special advisers are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Working Time Regulations

Graham Brady: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answers on Working Time Regulations of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 823W, and 20 December 2004, Official Report, columns 13534W, for what reasons it was not possible to provide details of the number and percentage of officials working in his private office who have worked more than a 48 hour week at any time in the last 12 months.

Tony Blair: As I set out in my original answer of 13 December, Official Report, column 823W, all officials in my Office who might work more than 48 hours a week as defined by the Working Time Regulations have signed a waiver.

HEALTH

Clinical Guidelines

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinical guidelines issued by his Department are designed to set minimum standards.

John Hutton: The Department does not issue clinical guidelines. Clinical guidelines are developed and issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE'S clinical guidelines bring clarity to complex areas of diagnosis and care by providing recommendations for good practice that are based on the best available evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness.
	Standards for Better Health, the first ever set of national standards for health provided under the National Health Service, requires by developmental standard D2 that:
	 . . . patients receive effective treatment and care that . . . conform to . . . NICE guidance.
	NICE guidance in this context includes its clinical guidelines.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the letter of 1 November from the hon. Member for Walsall, North concerning a constituent, reference 5006112.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 2 December 2004
	A reply was sent on 6 December 2004.

Defibrillators

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many uses of NHS defibrillators located in non-NHS premises were reported in the six months to September.

Melanie Johnson: There have been a total number of 31 deployments from AprilSeptember 2004 inclusive. This includes precautionary deployments and can be broken down as follows:
	Six precautionaryan automatic external defibrillator was taken to the event although not used.
	25 uses.

Defibrillators

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what system is in place for recording uses of NHS defibrillators located in non-NHS premises.

Melanie Johnson: When an event occurs it is recorded internally by the automatic external defibrillator (AED). This information is then downloaded by the manufacturer and is forwarded to the national defibrillator team, where the event is reviewed. To accompany this, an AED event form is completed. This form captures all information relating to the event and it is completed by staff at the site where the AED is housed and then forwarded to the Department. On receipt, this information is entered into a database.
	From a national perspective, there is also a database, which is coordinated by the Resuscitation Council (UK). This database collates information from all AEDs out in the community.

Defibrillators

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS defibrillators were in place in non-NHS premises on 30 September.

Melanie Johnson: There were 681 automatic external defibrillators in place within 110 sites in England by 30 September 2004.

Dental Laboratories

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely change in the number of jobs in dental laboratories in England as a result of industry restructuring in response to the Options for Change policy;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the new dentists' contract on (a) patients and (b) the dental laboratories industry;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the new dentists' contract on dental laboratories in personal dentist service pilot sites;
	(4)  what assessment his Department made of the impact of the Options for Change policy on the amount of laboratory work commissioned by personal dentist service dentists.

Rosie Winterton: Development of the Government's reforms to national health service dentistry was informed by experience of the personal dental services (PDS) scheme and Options for Change pilots. A key feature of these pilot schemes, which will also be carried forward to new contractual arrangements, is the replacement of the item-for-service method of remunerating dentists with local contracts. Primary care trusts will negotiate contracts with dental practices to meet patients' overall oral health care needs. An evaluation of a sample of PDS schemes suggest that dentists may prescribe fewer intricate dental appliances under local commissioning, although this may only be a temporary effect whilst they adjust to new contractual and remuneration arrangements. Dentists should prescribe appliances for which there is a clinical need.

Dentistry

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when discussions with the Governments of (a) Poland, (b) Germany, (c) Denmark and (d) Spain on the recruitment of dentists began.

Rosie Winterton: Discussions began with Poland, Denmark and Spain in 2004. Activity in Germany has only just begun and approaches to the Government will be made shortly.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the findings are from the personal dental services pilot sites on bad debt; and whose responsibility bad debt will be after the NHS dental base contract comes into effect.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 December 2004
	Currently the responsibility for bad debts due to non-payment of patient charges rests with the provider dentist in the general dental services and personal dental services (PDS) except where, under the PDS, the practice is owned by the primary care trust. Bad debt has not been raised as an issue by providers in the PDS. When the new contractual arrangements are implemented a new system of patient charges will be required. We have received a report from the NHS dentistry patient charges working group, chaired by Harry Cayton, which we are considering.

Dentistry

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were per head of the population in England in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of national health service dentists (headcount) per 10,000 population in England is shown in the table for September in each of the years 1979 to 2004. NHS dentists comprise those dentists working in the General Dental Service (GDS), Hospital Dental Service (HDS), Community Dental Service (CDS) and Personal Dental Service (PDS). Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
	
		
			  Dentists per 10,000 
		
		
			 1997 4.17 
			 1998 4.27 
			 1999 4.37 
			 2000 4.43 
			 2001 4.53 
			 2002 4.58 
			 2003 4.66 
			 2004 4.67

Dentistry

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the number of patients paying for private dental treatment in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on private dental treatment is not routinely available to the Department. Information on private dental expenditure and national health service/private patient mix is given in Tables 3.5 and 3.6 of the Office of Fair Trading publication The private dentistry market in the UK, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Departmental Advertisements

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many television advertisements his Department has commissioned on (a) terrestrial and (b) satellite television channels in the last 12 months; and what the cost was in each case;
	(2)  what criteria are used by his Department to determine (a) on which satellite television channels advertisements on behalf of his Department or its agencies are screened and (b) the frequency of screenings of advertisements;.
	(3)  what discussions he has held with the devolved administrations in relation to the content, frequency and timing of television advertising placed by his Department on UK-wide satellite broadcasting channels.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number, with costs, of advertisements commissioned by the Department's communications directorate for screening on terrestrial and satellite television during 200304.
	
		
			 Campaign title Number of advertisements Terrestrial Costs ( thousand) Satelite costs ( thousand) 
		
		
			 Flu immunisation 1 620 Nil 
			 Childhood immunisation 1  953  Nil 
			 National Health  Service careers 1  1,532  661 
			 Tobacco 12 9,523 2,813 
			 Social care/work 3 1,523 355 
		
	
	The criteria used for all campaigns are individually assessed to take into account the campaign objectives, the target audience and any specific regional factors.
	The media buyers secure the most cost effective advertising slots to match the brief at the most competitive prices within the budget allocated.
	Frequency of screening will depend on a consideration of how many times an audience needs to see the message before it will achieve the desired effect and the size of the audience for any particular television spot.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The provision of planting to the Department is undertaken as part of the Departments cleaning contract. The cost of this service since 1998 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 199798 No figures available 
			 199899 13,668.00 
			 19992000 14,385.75 
			 200001 14,430.08 
			 200102 12,383.10 
			 200203 12,692.68 
			 200304 13,073.45

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of furniture, including seating, incurred by the Department is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount () 
		
		
			 200102 2,690,495.16 
			 200203 1,918,122.11 
			 200304 437,597.07 
		
	
	No information is available for previous years.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of refurbishments in his Department was in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Rosie Winterton: Departmental expenditure on refurbishments in the period since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 199798 1,980,802 
			 199899 1,271,733 
			 19992000 1,453,483 
			 200001 652,456 
			 200102 559,009 
			 200203 2,087,270 
			 200304 2,882,993 
			 200405 (5507180016)2,012,974 
			 200506 (5507180017)2,000,000 
		
	
	(5507180016) Anticipated outturn.
	(5507180017) Planned expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Departmental expenditure on first class travel (rail and air) is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 2000 3,671,300 
			 2001 3,738,629 
			 2002 5,052,611 
			 2003 5,557,417 
			 2004 5,399,355 
		
	
	A great proportion of this cost relates to travel between the Department's offices in London and Leeds. Expenditure for previous years is not available.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act;
	(2)  how many departmental files have been destroyed in each of the past five years;
	(3)  what changes have been promulgated in each of the past five years to the guidelines or other criteria for the retention or destruction of departmental files.

Rosie Winterton: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at the national archives (TNA) will continue to take place in the Department under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.
	In accordance with its selection policies and disposal schedules, the Department has destroyed the following numbers of files in each of the last five years:
	
		
			 Period Number destroyed 
		
		
			 1 January31 December 2000 89,511 
			 1 January31 December 2001 37,421 
			 1 January31 December 2002 42,231 
			 1 January31 December 2003 52,824 
			 1 January30 November 2004 39,404 
		
	
	Since 1999, the Department has produced one schedule for the disposal of records which are specific to its administrative activities. It also disposes of its records in accordance with over twenty guidance notes produced by TNA over the last five years, covering disposal schedules, managing records in the electronic environment, as well as overarching records management guidance.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Rosie Winterton: The Department and its Executive Agencies occupy 41 properties comprising 105,836.66 square metres of floor space. None of the properties are vacant.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files and documents in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which his Department's policies meet the needs of ethnic minorities.

Melanie Johnson: The Department committed to transforming the health and social care system so that it produces faster, fairer services that deliver better health and social care and tackle inequalities. Achieving sustainable improvements in health and services for black and minority ethnic people is part of the overall drive to promote equity of access to national health service services.
	The Department's strategy for meeting the needs of minority ethnic people is to set action on race equality within the overall framework for planning and delivering the Department's priorities. The Department has a detailed programme of work under way to develop policies and promote good practice to improve the delivery of health and social care services among black and minority ethnic groups. Some of the areas in which the Department has initiated progress are around mental health, coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
	The Department is also committed to the collection of ethnic origin monitoring information using the 2001 Census categories as part of the process of monitoring and improving access to services within the health and social care sector.
	In 2002, the Department published its race equality scheme, which sets out how the Department planned to meet the general and specific duties placed on it by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Work is currently underway to review the scheme.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department were employed to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The numbers of staff directly employed by the Department to take forward the implementation and application of Freedom of Information Act within the Department, including those budgeted for future years, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Staff (full-time equivalent) 
		
		
			 2001 1.45 
			 2002 2.15 
			 2003 2.35 
			 2004 2.65 
			 2005 3.15 
			 2006 2.55 
		
	
	Other staff are involved in the implementation and application of the Freedom of Information Act, but it is difficult to identify precisely the number and it is potentially part of every civil servant's role to respond to freedom of information requests.

General Dental Council

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish a response to the consultation on proposals for strengthening the General Dental Council.

Rosie Winterton: It is expected that the consultation report will be published in the spring.

Healthcare Industry Task Force

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Healthcare Industry Task Force report of November.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The healthcare industries task force delivered its final report on 17 November 2004. It included nine key outputs. Work to implement these is under way and progress will be reported to a new strategic group to be led by the co-chairs of the task force, my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord Warner) and Sir Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith and Nephew. Copies of the report, Better health through partnership: a programme for action, have been placed in the Library.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (a) has paid and (b) plans to pay to Media Strategy to help them prepare for oral evidence sessions before Parliamentary select committees between October 2003 and April 2005.

Melanie Johnson: I am informed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that it employed Media Strategy to (a) assist members and senior officials to prepare for the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's inquiry into human reproductive technologies and the law and (b) provide specialist presentation skills training. The fee for this work was 5,600.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what purposes the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority employs consultants; and how much it has paid to consultants since June 2001 and plans to pay up to April 2005.

Melanie Johnson: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) employs consultants to provide specialist knowledge and specific advice that is not available within its existing workforce. The areas covered have included consultation on specific policy work, including advice on consultations with the public and surveys in connection with reviewing existing policies and developing new policies, information technology expertise and assistance with the setting up and design of the HFEA's register project, including advice on centre billing, setting up the audit programme and the minimum data set for the register.
	The HFEA has advised me that fees paid to consultants since 200102 are as shown in the table.
	
		Consultants fees paid by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2005(5507180018)
		
			  Fee (000) 
		
		
			 200102(5507180019) 451 
			 200203 624 
			 200304 405 
			 200405 to date(5507180020) 72 
			 Forecast to 31 March 2005 55 
		
	
	Notes:
	(5507180018) Consultants work has covered specific policy work and information technology, including work on the HFEA's register.
	(5507180019) Expenditure is for the full financial year as information required to establish the proportion of spend made after June 2001 could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
	(5507180020) Information covers period 1 April 2004 to 16 December 2004.
	Source:
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Identity Cards

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of installing biometric card readers (a) in total and (b) as an average per facility for (i) general practitioner surgeries and (ii) hospitals and other health centres; and what estimate he has made of the annual cost of maintenance for biometric card readers across the NHS;
	(2)  what representations he has made to the Home Office regarding the (a) timescale and (b) cost of introducing biometic card readers across the NHS.

John Hutton: No decisions have yet not been made about whether biometric card readers will be used in the NHS, whether in connection with the national identity cards scheme or for any other purpose. The Home Office have published figures on the cost of biometric card readers. A decision to install biometric card readers in the NHS would only be taken if the benefits outweighed the costs.

Manor Park/Clarendon Park

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his solicitors will confirm the transfer of designated public land at Manor Park and Clarendon Park to Epsom and Ewell borough council.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 December 2004
	Manor Park and Clarendon Park were sold for residential development by the Secretary of State for Health in April 1998 and 1999 respectively and at that time responsibility for both sites passed to the acquiring consortia. The provision of open space within these sites and their transfer to public ownership is a matter for negotiation between the new owners and Epsom and Ewell borough council.

Milk Tokens

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Milk Token Hotline on 7 December had a pre-recorded message informing callers that all outstanding tokens would be issued by 29 November; when he will change the message; how many overdue milk tokens remained to be issued on 7 December; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 13 December 2004
	On 1 November 2004, responsibility for the distribution of milk tokens to all beneficiaries of income support and income-based job seekers allowance transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions to the Department of Health. However, technical difficulties have led to a high volume of calls to the token distribution unit, which sends out tokens on the Department of Health's behalf.
	The message was left on the helpline to inform beneficiaries that they should have received their December tokens by 29 November. Any caller who had not received their milk tokens would then know to stay on the line to seek further assistance. All beneficiaries notified to us by the Inland Revenue (recipients of child tax credit) and the Department for Work and Pensions were mailed by 29 November.
	To allow for Christmas, the next mailing was sent out a week early, so the message advises that the next mailing should have been received by 21 December.

MRSA

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies have contracted MRSA in each of the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency's voluntary reporting system is the only national dataset providing information by age. Published data for children aged under one year is shown as follows.
	
		Reports of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus blood isolates in children aged under one year
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 34 
			 2000 35 
			 2001 39 
			 2002 38 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency

MRSA

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA have been reported at Northwick Park Hospital in each of the last three years; how many of those cases proved fatal; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Information on methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (bacteraemias) is collected by National Health Service trust rather than by hospital. Northwick Park is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust where reports are given as follows:
	
		
			 April to March MRSA bacteraemia reports 
		
		
			 200102 59 
			 200203 44 
			 200304 55 
		
	
	The mandatory MRSA surveillance does not collect information on deaths.

NHS (Ethical Recruitment)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ban the NHS from using recruitment agencies who have not signed up to the Code of Practice on Ethical Recruitment.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 December 2005
	The Government encourages compliance with the code of practice sensibly and with the least possible bureaucracy. Strategic health authorities are working with NHS employers, the national health service employers' organisation, to ensure collaborative and ethical international recruitment, including compliance with the code of practice. I am satisfied that the NHS is complying with the code and that a direction is not necessary.

Parliamentary Questions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many written questions for his Department were unanswered when Parliament prorogued; and how many of the unanswered questions were tabled in each of the previous months of the 200304 Session.

Rosie Winterton: None.

Patient Environment Action Teams

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he or a member of his Ministerial team (a) received and (b) approved the publication of the Patient Environment Action Team scores.

John Hutton: My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, the Lord Warner, was notified of the results of the 2004 patient environment action team assessments on 26 November 2004 and these were published on 7 December 2004.

Public Bodies

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the membership is of the (a) National Biological Standards Board, (b) National Radiological Protection Board and (c) Dental Practices Board; what the (i) cost of salaries and expenses to members and (ii) running costs of each body were in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff are employed to service each body.

Rosie Winterton: The membership of the National Biological Standards Board, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Dental Practices Board are shown in the tables.
	
		National Biological Standards Board
		
			  
		
		
			 Prof. Gordon William Duff Chairman 
			 Prof. David Latchman Member 
			 Prof. J. Patrick Sissons Member 
			 Prof. John Hughes Member 
			 Sir John Skekel Member 
			 Prof. Derek Harold Calam Member 
			 Prof. James Feeney Member 
			 Mr. Alan Heath Member 
			 Mr. Allan James Robertson Member 
			 Miss Gillian Noble Member 
			 Mr. S. Thomas Member 
			 Dr. J. C. Petricianni Member 
			 Prof. J. H. Darbyshire Member 
			 Mr. Martin Hindle Member 
			 Dr. L. Tsang Member 
			 Prof. C. Lee Member 
		
	
	
		National Radiological Protection Board
		
			  
		
		
			 Sir William Stewart Chairman 
			 Mrs P. M. Castle Member 
			 Dr. P. Darragh Member 
			 Prof. W. Gelletly Member 
			 Mrs F. A. Heaton Member 
			 Dr. R. A. Hunter Member 
			 Prof. W. R. Lees Member 
			 Prof. M. D. Mason Member 
			 Mr. J. C. White Member 
		
	
	
		Dental Practices Board
		
			  
		
		
			 Mary Wyllie (Dentist) Chair 
			 Ruby Austin (Dentist) Vice Chair 
			 John Taylor (Chief Executive) Member 
			 Sandeep Lakhanpaul (Dentist) Member 
			 David Ferns (Dentist) Member 
			 Carol Ferguson Non Dental Member 
			 Derek Spratt Non Dental Member 
		
	
	For each of the three bodies, the cost of salaries and expenses to members, the total operating costs and the staff employed are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Name of body Cost of salaries and expenses to members 200304 () Total operating costs 200304 ( million) Staff employedwhole time equivalent postsbaseline 31 March 2004 
		
		
			 National Biological Standards Board 31,000 18 308 
			 National Radiological Protection Board 21,163 16.3 349 
			 Dental Practices Board 60,000 23.8 321 
		
	
	Further details are in the bodies' annual reports for 200304, which are available in the Library.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's expert working group report on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was based on (a) consideration of raw clinical data and (b) summaries provided by the pharmaceutical companies.

Rosie Winterton: The findings of the committee on safety of medicines' expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were based on detailed analysis of a number of sources of data including clinical trial data provided by pharmaceutical companies, studies on the general practice research database, the published literature and individual reports from health professionals and patients. Full details of the data considered and the conclusions of the expert working group are presented in its report, which is available on the website of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency at www.mhra.gov.uk. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

Sickness Absence

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

Rosie Winterton: The data on sickness within the Department is contained in the annual report, Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service, published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent of which, for calendar year 2003, was announced by written ministerial statement on 1 November 2004, Official Report, column 1WS and copies placed in the Library. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are available on the Cabinet Office web site at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/conditions of service/caje/publications/index.asp#sickness.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004;
	(2)  if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Rosie Winterton: There were none in this period. All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly), on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 578W.

Statins

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the possible impact on the incidence of side effects of over-the-counter sales of statins.

Rosie Winterton: The safety profile of simvastatin is well established and based on 14 years of experience as a widely used prescription only medicine. The committee on safety of medicines (CSM) has reviewed all the relevant safety data and the results of a full public consultation exercise and concluded that it was safe for simvastatin 10 milligram to be supplied by pharmacists, according to a protocol that has numerous safeguards to ensure that patients are appropriately advised.
	As with all medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the CSM continually monitor the safety of simvastatin. Doctors and pharmacists report suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines via the yellow card scheme. This system applies to both prescription and non-prescription medicines and will enable the continued monitoring of the safety of the medicine in pharmacy use.
	The MHRA is exploring with the manufacturer the possibility of further research into the safety profile of simvastatin in over-the-counter use.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Department does not own any 0870 telephone numbers.

UVFGI Technology

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of using UVGI technology to combat pathogen levels in NHS hospitals.

John Hutton: In December 2000, the Department commissioned a pilot study by the University of Leeds into ultraviolet disinfection of airborne bacteria in a United Kingdom hospital. This study concluded that, whilst there was a potential role for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in hospital buildings, further research work was needed to establish the parameters within which the potential benefits can be realised. Consequently, a grant has been awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to investigate this in more depth. This study will address many of the research questions encountered in the pilot study.
	In addition, the Health Protection Agency's rapid review panel reviewed a portable device that uses ultra-violet technology, but concluded that the device was unlikely to be of benefit.

Whittington Hospital

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Jarvis-led private finance initiative contract for the Whittington hospital extension; and what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that the construction work is completed within a schedule agreed by all parties;
	(2)  when he expects the expansion of the Whittington hospital to be complete; and what discussions about the conclusion of the building work have been held by his Department with (a) Jarvis and (b) other contractors.

John Hutton: The Department is monitoring the progress of this project and has provided advice to the Whittington National Health Service Trust. In any private finance initiative project, should a consortium member be unable to fulfil its contractual obligations it is, in the first instance, for the project's funders and other shareholders to remedy the situation. There are strong incentives for them to do this.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud involved (a) false identities and (b) false claims without false identity in the last year for which figures are available; and how many prosecutions there were in each category.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the cost to his Department of identity fraud and (b) the number of people in each year since 1997, who have claimed benefits to which they are not entitled on the basis of a false identity.

Chris Pond: We estimate that identity related benefit fraud costs the Department 50 million per annum. This figure is derived from national data produced by the Regional Benefit Review process, which by examining a percentage of cases is designed to uncover fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance.
	Information is not available as to how many people have claimed benefit on the basis of a false identity.

Benefits Processing (Aberystwyth)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many representations he has received in support of his proposals to change benefits processing in Aberystwyth.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr Simon Thomas dated 10 January 2005.
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many representations he has received in support of the proposals to change benefit processing in Aberystwyth. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I fully understand the concerns of our customers and staff over the proposed changes to the way we deliver our business. Whilst we have received no direct representations locally supporting our plans, I firmly believe that the move to Benefit Processing Centres is the best way to maintain a high quality service to our customers within the efficiency constraints we are faced with.
	The new integrated service will be delivered from the site of the current Jobcentre, and I am confident that Jobcentre Plus will continue to offer the best possible service to customers in Aberystwyth. Indeed, through the extension of the Personal Adviser service to customers on inactive benefits we will be increasing the help we offer to some of our most disadvantaged customers.
	As the timescales for these changes are agreed, the District Manager for West Wales will keep you fully informed.

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus will give a substantive reply to the letter of 8 October from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight concerning Mr D Prescott.

Jane Kennedy: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 30 December.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	Email messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Further email guidance is available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf
	Departmental policy on this has not changed within the past 12 months.

Homelessness

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the support services offered by his Department to help homeless people find employment.

Jane Kennedy: The Department provides a range of services to help homeless people find employment, from support from personal advisers based in Jobcentres to specific initiatives such as Progress2work-LinkUP and Action Teams for Jobs. Additionally, homeless people can have early access to the New Deals and other national programmes.
	Progress2work-Link-Up is being piloted in 22 Jobcentre Plus districts. The initiative is designed to include those who may experience multiple barriers to employment for whom it provides support into employment and to find accommodation. Ex-offenders, the homeless and those who misuse alcohol are included in this wider client group.
	Jobcentre Plus communicates its help for the homeless via its network of advisers for whom it provides guidance about the problems facing homeless customers. This explains the role of staff in helping and advising such customers as well as acting as a signposting service to organisations which offer specialist help to homeless people. There is also guidance about the British Action on Homelessness (BAOH) and how its Ready for Work programme work placements are accommodated within the Intensive Activity Period of New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus.
	Jobcentre Plus also conducts joint work at a local level. A strand of most Local Strategic Partnerships centres on homelessness and employment and these partnerships provide the link between Jobcentre Plus and local authorities.

Housing Benefit

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claims in 200304 were subject to each rate of non-dependent deduction; at each rate, how many claimants were living in (a) council housing, (b) registered social landlord housing and (c) the private rented sector; and what each figure represents as a percentage of total housing benefit claims.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Housing benefit non-dependants by deduction type and tenure, Great Britain: May 2003 -- Thousands and percentages
		
			  All tenures Registered social landlord Local authority Private 
		
		
			 Total with non-dependants (5507180021)270 80 158 32 
			 As a percentage of all HB claimants 7.1% 2.1% 4.2% 0.9% 
			 Of which: 
			 Attracting deductions for non-dependants 128 36 77 15 
			 As a percentage of all HB claimants 3.4% 1.0% 2.0% 0.4% 
			 Non-dependants: 
			 Total (5507180022)304 92 176 36 
			 Attracting deductions 136 39 81 16 
			 Status of non-dependants: 
			 In remunerative work 59 19 33 7 
			 Of which: 
			 Gross income 92 6 (5507180023)2 4 (5507180023)1 
			 Gross income 92-136.99 8 3 4 (5507180023)1 
			 Gross income 137-176.99 12 4 6 (5507180023)2 
			 Gross income 177-234.99 10 3 6 (5507180023)1 
			 Gross income 235-292.99 6 (5507180023)1 4 (5507180023)1 
			 Gross income 293 and over 16 6 8 (5507180023)2 
			 Not receiving IS/JSA(IB) nor working 28 6 18 4 
			 Receiving IS/JSA(IB), not in work 49 14 31 4 
			 On Government Training Allowance, not in work (5507180024) (5507180024) (5507180024) (5507180024) 
			 Unknown (5507180023)2 (5507180024) (5507180023)1 (5507180024) 
		
	
	Notes:
	(5507180021) This figure is the number of housing benefit recipients with at least one non-dependant.
	(5507180022) This figure is the total number of non-dependants.
	(5507180023) Figures under 2,500 are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should be used only as a guide to the situation.
	(5507180024) Nil or negligible.
	Notes:
	1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. The caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand, and percentages to one
	decimal place.
	4. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hours per week were spent on average on job search activity by a jobseeker's allowance claimant in the last period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr David Willetts dated 10 January 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the average amount of time spent on job search activities by people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Information about the average weekly time JSA claimants spend on job search activity is not available. However, people claiming JSA are required to actively seek work and undertake minimum levels of job search activity to maintain their entitlement to JSA. It may be helpful if I explain this, and how we monitor compliance, in a little more detail.
	People claiming JSA are usually required to undertake a minimum of three steps each week to look for work. These steps, which will vary depending on individual customer circumstances and the work they are seeking, are discussed and agreed at the new jobseeker interview, recorded in the Jobseeker's Agreement, and reviewed regularly. The Jobseeker's Agreement outlines the customer's job goal, the times and days they are available for work and those steps that, if taken, will offer the best chance of leading to a job. Having a Jobseeker's Agreement, signed by the customer and Adviser, is a requirement of entitlement to JSA.
	After the new jobseeker interview, people are usually required to attend the Jobcentre fortnightly and, if they remain unemployed, will be expected to attend more in-depth interviews with a Personal Adviser at key stages. These customer contacts provide a regular opportunity to ensure people are actively seeking work and to see what help, if any, is required. When someone does not appear to be actively seeking work or undertaking the required level of job search activity, payment of JSA is withheld and the case referred to an independent decision maker.
	I am sorry the specific information you have requested is not available, but I hope this response is nonetheless helpful.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) quarterly and (b) annual jobseeker's allowance claimant figures for 18 to 24-year-olds on the Isle of Wight are for the last five-year period; and if he will make a statement on recent trends.

Jane Kennedy: The UK has one of the strongest labour markets in the world. Through economic stability combined with policies to tackle barriers to work we have achieved the highest employment and the lowest unemployment in any of the major industrialised countries.
	The number of people in work is up by two million since 1997 and unemployment is at its lowest level for nearly 30 years. Long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated.
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		Number of 18 to 24-year-old jobseeker's allowance claimants in Isle of Wight Parliamentary constituency
		
			  February May August November Yearly average 
		
		
			 2000 880 525 485 540 610 
			 2001 775 460 400 555 550 
			 2002 725 465 395 535 530 
			 2003 755 435 380 480 515 
			 2004 680 430 385 475 495 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. Figures are not seasonally adjusted.
	3. Annual figures have been based on a four quarterly average of February, May, August and November of the relevant year.
	Source:
	100 per cent. count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (computer held cases only).

New Deal for Lone Parents

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents in the Dagenham constituency.

Jane Kennedy: At the end of September 2004, 120 people were participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents in the Dagenham constituency.
	Notes:
	1. Latest available figures. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Recovery Proceedings

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on legal aid in relation to persons subject to civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 since it came into force.

David Lammy: To date, the Legal Services Commission has paid 131,223 in relation to persons subject to civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Civil Recovery Proceedings

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what sums have been repaid to the Legal Services Commission from monies recovered by the Assets Recovery Agency under civil recovery proceedings to reimburse the costs to the Legal Services Commission of funding the representation of those subject to such proceedings.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission has not received any money from the Assets Recovery Agency under civil recovery proceedings to reimburse the costs of funding the representation of those subject to such proceedings. This is because neither the Access to Justice Act 1999 nor the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has a mechanism for the Assets Recovery Agency to refund costs to the Legal Services Commission out of property recovered.
	Under the Serious and Organised Crime Bill, it is proposed that the system will change to allow costs to be provided out of the assets themselves, rather than through legal aid.

Courts/Tribunals

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people are employed by (a) Her Majesty's Magistrates Court Service Inspectorate and (b) the Council of Tribunals; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body.

David Lammy: Her Majesty's Magistrates Courts Service Inspectorate's (MCSI) current staffing level is 32 full-time members of staff and nine standby (employed on fixed-term contracts guaranteeing 20 days work per year). We are also in the process of recruiting four additional inspectors to take forward our expanded inspection remit from April 2005.
	The running costs for 200304 were 1.87 million.
	MCSI, which inspects the administration of magistrates courts and the Children and Family Consultation and Support Service (CAFCASS), will migrate to a new inspectorate (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Court Administration (HMICA) (on 1 April 2005, as established by S5861 of the Courts Act 2003. Its remit will be to:
	inspect and report to the Lord Chancellor on the system that supports the carrying on of the business of the courts listed in subsection (2) and the services provided for those courts; inspect and report to the Lord Chancellor on the performance of CAFCASS functions.
	The Act expands the remit to inspect the administration of magistrates courts, into the Crown and county courts as well. In the first instance HMICA will focus inspection activity on quality of service.
	The Council on Tribunals is an advisory non-departmental public body. At 31 March 2004 the Council on Tribunals employed 12 staff on a full-time equivalent basis. The Council also reimburses the salaries of three staff employed by the Scottish Executive at the Council's Scottish Committee office in Edinburgh. These three staff are not on DCA payroll.
	The most recent published accounts for the Council are for the 200304 financial year in which the running costs were 1,056,406.
	In July 2004 the White Paper Transforming Public Services: Complaints, Redress and Tribunals was published. The White Paper sets out how Government intends reforming the tribunal system. To compliment these reforms and the creation of a dedicated Tribunals Service, the Department for Constitutional Affairs intends to transform the existing Council on Tribunals into an Administrative Justice Council. In addition to taking over the existing role of the Council on Tribunals, the Administrative Justice Council will be charged with taking account of the broader landscape of administrative justice, reviewing performance, representing the views of users and ensuring that the relationships between courts, tribunals and ombudsmen are clear and complimentary.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by his Department.

David Lammy: My Department does not hold any credit cards for official expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (e) subsistence.

David Lammy: It is not possible to list how much was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence by the Department without incurring disproportionate cost. However, total travel costs within the UK for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office (PGO) and the Department for Constitutional Affairs Headquarters (DCA HQ), are set out in the table.
	
		Travel costs within the UK
		
			  ( million) 
		
		
			 200405 (to 30 November) 4,070,863 
			 200304 5,913,187 
			 200203 5,035,694 
			 200102 4,522,177 
			 200001 4,169,902 
			 19992000 4,237,897 
			 199899 3,506,760 
		
	
	There has been an increase in travel costs for DCA since 200203 because of the increased responsibilities for the Department.
	Information on 199798 is not readily available.
	All Civil Service travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department spent on first class travel in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The costs for first class travel in each year since 1997 are not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts without incurring disproportionate costs.
	All Civil Service travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

David Lammy: It is not possible for the Department to provide the full detailed information requested and what the costs of overseas (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were without incurring disproportionate costs. However, total overseas travel costs for the Department, which covers costs for Court Service, Public Guardianship Office (PGO) and the Department for Constitutional Affairs Headquarters (DCAHQ), are set out in the table:
	
		Overseas Travel Costs
		
			  (000) 
		
		
			 200405 (to 30 November) 110,214 
			 200304 172,631 
			 200203 145,257 
			 200102 96,251 
			 200001 153,737 
			 19992000 103,449 
			 199899 110,774 
		
	
	There has been an increase in travel costs since 200203, because of the increased responsibilities of the Department.
	Information on the previous year is not readily available.
	All Civil Service travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Further email guidance is available on the National Archives web site at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf

E-mails

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance he has issued to Government departments in respect of the retention and deletion of e-mails; and what consideration was given to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in providing guidance.

Christopher Leslie: The Department for Constitutional Affairs' 'Guidance on Processing Requests', which is published on the internet at www.foi.gov.uk , states at Chapters 2 and 10 that it is the responsibility of all members of staff to manage their e-mail messages appropriately. This means staff must identify email messages that are records of their business activities and those that are not.
	It is important that email messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and are moved from email accounts and personal folders and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Email messages that do not form part of the official record should be managed within the mailbox in the short term but permanently deleted when no longer required.
	Full consideration was given to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when drafting this advice.

Entertainment Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent on entertainment by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

David Lammy: Expenditure on entertainment for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA headquarters are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Period Total DCA 
		
		
			 200405 (to 30 November) 45,798 
			 200304 79,050 
			 200203 43,378 
			 200102 44,730 
			 200001 60,768 
			 19992000 71,166 
			 199899 45,087 
		
	
	However, it is not possible to list the entertainment costs spent by the Department broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Information on previous years is not readily available.

Invoice Payments

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it.

David Lammy: During the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 the Department paid supplier invoices, on average, within 15 days (unaudited figures). During this period, the Department paid 91.5 per cent. of undisputed invoices within 30 days or the agreed credit terms and 0.84 per cent. (unaudited figure) of invoices remained unpaid after 90 days.
	The Government are committed to improving the payment culture in the UK in order to create a fair and stable environment for business transactions. Government Departments and their agencies should aim to pay all invoices not in dispute within 30 days or within the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified. The Department supports this policy.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 13 December 2004, Official Report , column 946W.

Special Advisers

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many special advisers there are in the Department, broken down by Civil Service pay-grade.

Christopher Leslie: Details on the names and number of Special Advisers by pay band by Department are published on an annual basis. For information for the financial year 200304, I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on Thursday, 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 466W.
	Information for 200405 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Voter Registration

John Pugh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment the Government has made of (a) proposals for individual voter registration and (b) the possible effects of such a system on the number of young people likely to vote.

Christopher Leslie: Mr Christopher Leslie: The Government is sympathetic to the principles of individual registration and appreciates the benefits it might bring, particularly with regard to supporting remote voting. However, there are concerns about the possible impact of individual registration on registration rates and by extension the ability of eligible electors to vote. As such we are therefore considering the options to support remote voting with an approach that preserves the completeness and integrity of electoral registers.
	The Government has made no assessment of the effects of such a system on the number of young people likely to vote, but research undertaken by the Electoral Commission following the introduction of individual registration in Northern Ireland (The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002: An Assessment of its first year of operation) has suggested that young people are among the most under registered, with 29 per cent. of 1824 year olds not on the register. The Government is reluctant to see a fall in the registration rates of young people, already an under registered group, and any future work on registration will take this into account.

Voter Turnout

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Department has taken to encourage more people to participate in the next General Election.

Christopher Leslie: No date has yet been fixed for the next general election. The Government has introduced various measures aimed at making voting easier and more convenient, including postal voting on demand which has proved very popular among voters. The independent Electoral Commission has responsibility for encouraging public involvement in the democratic process. It plans to conduct a public awareness campaign to promote voter registration and participation in the forthcoming elections. This includes the local elections scheduled to take place across England and Northern Ireland and, when it is called, any general election.

TREASURY

Aggregates Levy

Annabelle Ewing: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to industry in Scotland of the Aggregates Levy since its introduction;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the impact on local authorities in Scotland of the Aggregates Levy since its introduction;
	(3)  what change there has been in imports of aggregates into the UK since the introduction of the Aggregates Levy.

John Healey: The Aggregates Levy was introduced in the UK in April 2002 and an assessment of the impact of its introduction is currently being conducted by HM Customs and Excise. No assessment has been made of the cost of the aggregates levy to industry or local authorities in Scotland.
	Imports of aggregate make up less than 1 per cent. of total UK aggregate production levels. Between 200102 and 200304 (the years either side of the introduction of the aggregates levy in April 2002) aggregate imported into the UK increased by 622,425 tonnes compared with a total of UK aggregate production of around 200 million tonnes in 2003.

Childcare Vouchers

Claire Ward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have received (a) childcare vouchers and (b) child tax credits in the (i) Watford and (ii) South West Hertfordshire constituencies.

Dawn Primarolo: The information at (a) is not available.
	The numbers of in-work families in each country, region, local authority and constituency receiving child and working tax credits are shown in various issues of Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical analyses. These appear on the Inland Revenue web site at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Dersonal-tax-credits/cwtc-qeoq-stats.htm

Claims to Tax

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1234W, on Inland Revenue and Customs, what criteria (a) Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise use in decisions on reducing or eliminating claims to tax; at what level these decisions have to be sanctioned; and what the total sum involved in such decisions was for each organisation in the last tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: For both the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise claims for tax or duty are rejected or reduced in accordance with the appropriate legislation. In all cases the claimant is advised of the reason for the rejection or reduction. The work is managed by officers in executive grades. The total sums involved are not held centrally and therefore cannot be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Crown Estate Property

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Crown Estate property has been leased to Prince Edward; how long the lease is; and how many (a) bedrooms and (b) living rooms there are in the property.

Stephen Timms: The Crown Estate has a 50-year lease agreement with the Earl of Wessex for Bagshot Park in Windsor.
	As a matter of principle the Crown Estate does not disclose details of the composition of any private residencies on which it has granted leases, as this is considered to be a confidential matter between the Crown Estate and the lessee.

Customs and Excise

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise staff were employed in Scotland in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of staff employed in Scotland in civil service departments and agencies since 1997, including HM Customs and Excise, are available on the Cabinet Office's civil service statistics website at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/ statistical_information/statistics/index.asp and in the annual editions of 'Civil Service Statistics'.

Customs and Excise

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the last review of staffing (a) numbers and (b) locations was carried out by HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: The national deployment of Customs and Excise staff is reviewed annually, and at other times as necessary. The number of staff deployed is determined by current risk and intelligence factors.

Customs and Excise

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely impact of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill on the number of Customs and Excise staff employed in Scotland.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 1401W.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury occupies 1 Horse Guards Road, which has a net internal area of 31,200 square metres. No other properties are held or occupied.

Employment Rates

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many adults of working age were economically inactive in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many of these were in each of the 10 largest cities in terms of population.

Paul Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Willetts, dated 10 January 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economic inactivity. I am replying in his absence.
	The table overleaf gives estimates for the working age people who are economically inactive (i.e. neither in employment nor unemployed) and resident in each of the 10 largest cities in the UK for the three month period ending in August 2004. The data are the numbers of economically inactive people resident in each City Unitary Authority area, except for London where the data are for the sum of the London Boroughs. The cities are listed in the order of size of population in the Unitary Authority areas.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		Working age economic inactivity(5507180025) in the largest cities(5507180026) in the UK. Three months ending in August 2004 -- Not seasonally adjusted
		
			  Number (thousand) 
		
		
			 Total United Kingdom 7,729 
			 City unitary authority area  
			 London(5507180027) 1,186 
			 Birmingham 165 
			 Leeds 87 
			 Glasgow 97 
			 Sheffield 78 
			 Bradford 72 
			 Edinburgh 56 
			 Liverpool 95 
			 Manchester 77 
			 Bristol 54 
		
	
	(5507180025) This refers to working age people (male 16 to 64, female 16 to 59) who are neither in employment nor unemployed.
	(5507180026) Each of the 10 largest cities in the United Kingdom are sorted in descending order of population size.
	(5507180027) Sum of London boroughs.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Employment Rates

David Willetts: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
	(1)  what the rates of (a) economic activity and (b) employment amongst men aged (i) under 25 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years, (vi) 65 to 74 years and (vii) 75 years or over were on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what (a) economic activity rate and (b) employment rate amongst women aged (i) under 25 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 60 years, (vi) 61 to 64 years, (vii) 65 to 74 years and (viii) 75 years or over was on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Colin Mawl to Mr. David Willetts, dated 10 January 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about employment and economic activity. I am replying in his absence.
	The table overleaf gives numbers and rates of employment and economic activity by age and by gender in the United Kingdom for the three-month period ending in August 2004.
	These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	
		Economic Activity Three months ending in August 2004 United Kingdom not seasonally adjusted
		
			 All persons Employment (thousand) Employment rate(5507180029) (percentage) Economic Activity (thousand) Economic Activity(5507180030) rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 Under 25(5507180028) 4,140 62.0 4,795 71.8 
			 2534 6,141 79.7 6,419 83.3 
			 3544 7,364 81.8 7,587 84.2 
			 4554 6,124 80.7 6,297 83.0 
			 5564 3,850 56.1 3,953 57.6 
			 6574 474 9.5 483 9.7 
			 75+ 66 1.6 66 1.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Men Employment (thousand)) Employment rate (percentage) Economic Activity (thousand) Economic Activity rate (percentage)) 
		
		
			 Under 25(5507180028) 2,147 64.1 2,523 75.4 
			 2534 3,286 87.6 3,446 91.8 
			 3544 3,942 89.2 4,062 91.9 
			 4554 3,224 86.0 3,326 88.7 
			 5564 2,220 65.8 2,294 68.0 
			 6574 301 12.8 307 13.1 
			 75+ 42 2.6 42 2.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Women Employment (thousand) Employment rate(5507180029)(percentage) Economic Activity (thousand) Economic Activity rate(5507180030) (percentage) 
		
		
			 Under 25(5507180028) 1,993 59.8 2,272 68.1 
			 2534 2,855 72.2 2,972 75.1 
			 3544 3,422 74.6 3,525 76.8 
			 4554 2,900 75.5 2,971 77.3 
			 5564 1,630 46.7 1,659 47.5 
			 6574 173 6.6 175 6.7 
			 75+ 24 1.0 24 1.0 
		
	
	(5507180028) This refers to people aged 16 to 24.
	(5507180029) The rates refer to people in employment as percentage of the population in the relevant gender and age group.
	(5507180030) The rates refer to people who are economically active (either in employment or unemployed) as a percentage of the total population in the relevant gender and age group.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

European Union

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK financial contribution to the European Union is calculated on the VAT (a) due to and (b) actually received by Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: The European Union budget is financed by four resources, as explained in the Government's annual White Paper on European Community Finances (Cm 6134): customs duties, including those on agricultural products, sugar levies, a VAT-based resource, and a GNI-based resource . The VAT-based resource currently makes up about 14 per cent. of total EC Budget revenue. It is calculated on the basis of a notional harmonised rate and reflects finally taxed expenditure across the EU.
	The method for calculating the VAT-based resource is set out in the Own Resources Decision:
	the starting point is the total amount of net VAT collected in each member state;
	a weighted average of the rates at which VAT is charged in the member state is then applied to the net total to produce the member state's intermediate national base;
	the intermediate base is then adjusted for derogations operated under the Sixth VAT Directive to produce the harmonised base;
	a notional rate of 1 per cent. is then applied to this base. The base is then capped at 50 per cent. of 1 per cent. of the member state's GNI; and
	a call-up rate (currently a maximum of 0.5 per cent.) is applied to produce a member state's VAT-based contribution.

Food Imports

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of UK produced foods have been transported to (a) EU member states and (b) other countries and then imported back into the UK since 2002.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to determine whether exported foods are produced in the UK or imported, processed and then exported. Additionally HM Customs and Excise only record country of dispatch rather then county of origin.

Inland Revenue/Customs and Excise (Merger)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the documents his Department has published since 1997 relating to the potential (a) cost and (b) efficiency savings resulting from a merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: Documents published by the Chancellor's departments since 1997 relating to the potential cost and efficiency savings resulting from a merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise are:
	Financing Britain's Future, Review of Revenue Departments by Gus O'Donnell (March 2004, ISBN 00101616325)
	Regulatory Impact Assessment: the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill (November 2004)
	Copies are available in the House Library.

Inland Revenue/Customs and Excise (Merger)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to carry out further assessments of the potential (a) cost and (b) efficiency savings resulting from a merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: As the necessary changes are developed, the management designate of HMRC is committed to assessing costs and benefits. Work on this has already commenced and has to date produced the current known costs of integration of 75 million as stated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill, and the expected staff savings from integration were identified in the efficiency technical notes published by the departments.

Inland Revenue/Customs and Excise (Merger)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many (a) gross job losses, (b) net job losses and (c) job relocations from (i) the Inland Revenue and (ii) HM Customs and Excise would result from implementing (A) the Gershon Review, (B) the Lyons Review and (C) the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise;
	(2)  what efficiency savings from (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise would result from implementing (i) the Gershon Review, (ii) the Lyons Review and (iii) the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: The efficiency and relocation recommendations of the Gershon and Lyons reviews apply to the integrated Revenue and Customs department announced in the 2004 Budget.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Efficiency Technical Note published by HM Revenue and Customs, http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/psa/hmrc_etn.pdf.

Irradiated Foods

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of irradiated foods, other than herbs and spices, have been imported from (a) EU member states and (b) other countries for general sale since 2002.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply
	HM Customs and Excise do not distinguish between irradiated and non-irradiated foods.

Irradiated Foods

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of UK produced food have been transported to (a) EU member states and (b) other countries for irradiation treatment and then imported back into the UK since 2002.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	As HM Customs and Excise do not distinguish between irradiated and non-irradiated foods, it is not possible to determine whether exported foods are produced in the UK or imported, processed and then exported.

Lyons Review

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure compliance by Government Departments with the proposals in the Lyons Review for relocation of public sector jobs, with particular reference to jobs in the oil and gas sectors.

Paul Boateng: The Lyons Review proposals are being taken forward as part of the Government's Efficiency Programme under the leadership of John Oughton. There are no proposals in the Lyons Review that specifically relate to the oil and gas sectors.

Mariners (National Insurance)

Alan Reid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances employer's national insurance contributions are liable to be paid in respect of the earnings of mariners who are employed on UK-flagged vessels operated by offshore manning companies.

Dawn Primarolo: Employer's National Insurance Contributions are payable if the mariners are employed in inshore waters classified as A, B, C or D under the Merchant Shipping (Categorisation of Waters) Regulations 1992.

Paris Club

Harry Cohen: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations the UK Government are making to non-Paris Club countries to (a) match and (b) exceed Paris Club commitments in terms of debt write-off; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The 21 November Paris Club agreement with Iraq contains a provision that requires Iraq to seek comparable treatment from all non-Paris Club creditors, including private creditors. The UK Government expects and encourages all creditors of Iraq to agree terms no less generous to Iraq than those delivered by the Paris Club.

Public Expenditure Survey

Keith Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of all current public expenditure survey papers.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 21 December 2004
	All current extant public expenditure survey (PES) papers will be placed the Library of the House.

Royal Lodge, Windsor

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) bedrooms and (b) living rooms there are within the Royal Lodge, Windsor.

Stephen Timms: As a matter of principle, the Crown Estate does not disclose details of the composition of any private residencies on which it has granted leases, as this is considered to be a confidential matter between the Crown Estate and the lessee.

Sick Leave

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

Stephen Timms: The information is as follows.
	(a) The number of sickness absence days taken by employees of Customs and Excise since 1997, and the sickness absence rate are:
	
		
			   Number of sickness absence days taken Average working days sickness absence per staff 
		
		
			 1997 211,740 8.9 
			 1998 222,564 9.4 
			 1999 225,235 9.6 
			 2000 206,442 9.0 
			 2001 203,606 8.7 
			 2002 207,297 9,0 
			 2003 215,252 9.2 
		
	
	(b) The number of sickness absence days taken by employees of the Inland Revenue since 1997 are:
	
		
			   Number of sickness absence days taken Average working days sickness absence per staff 
		
		
			 1997 811,723 11.9 
			 1998 550,957 11.0 
			 1999 751,893 11.5 
			 2000 690,003 10.9 
			 2001 620,987 9.5 
			 2002 689,126 10.5 
			 2003 762,350 10.8 
		
	
	(c) The number of sickness absence days taken by employees of the Treasury since 1997 are:
	
		
			   Number of sickness absence days taken Average working days sickness absence per staff 
		
		
			 1997 4,714 4.9 
			 1998 3,783 3.9 
			 1999 5,258 5.5 
			 2000 3,826 3.9 
			 2001 4,738 4.7 
			 2002 5,196 4.4 
			 2003 5,892 5.2 
		
	
	The published information on average working days sickness absence covering the years 1997 to 2003 is derived from the Annual Report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service published by AON Limited, and formerly by Bioss and BMI Health Services. Actual number of days taken due to sickness absence is calculated by multiplying the average number of sickness absence days by number of staff years. Sickness absence targets for the department are reported on in the relevant departmental and annual reports.
	HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue are in the midst of significant organisational change and currently working on formulating managing attendance policies and procedures for the new department, HM Revenue and Customs. It is anticipated that this will have a positive impact upon the current statistics.

Stolen Property

Mr. Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants from his Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Paul Boateng: There have been no cases of civil servants in HM Treasury who have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft 1 (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following internal theft allegations in each year since 1997.
	However, in 1997 one member of staff was charged and convicted of theft external to the Department. The individual was subsequently dismissed from Treasury employment following internal disciplinary procedure.
	1 Records of unproven allegations are not retained.

Tax Credits

Anne Begg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many end of year tax credit overpayments have been identified by the Inland Revenue;
	(2)  how many requests not to recover tax overpayments the Inland Revenue has received in the last period for which figures are available; and how many requests have been processed;
	(3)  in how many cases the Inland Revenue has decided not to recover a tax credit overpayment in the last period for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many appeals have been lodged with the Inland Revenue with regard to tax credit (a) overpayments and (b) underpayments; and how many have been settled.

Dawn Primarolo: For the number of tax credit overpayments, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 94648W.
	By the end of December 2004 about 78,000 taxpayers had returned Form TC846, or had otherwise been recorded as requesting the write-off of their overpayments on grounds of official error. About 41,000 requests had been decided by that date, and about 1,600 families had their overpayments written off for that reason.
	To date the Inland Revenue has had to consider very few requests for overpayments to be written off on ground of inability to pay.
	In addition, for the number of families whose overpayments arising from a software error are to be written off, I refer her to paragraph 2.10 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General attached to the Inland Revenue Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2004.
	Tax credit claimants can appeal against decisions which affect the value of their entitlement. Whether there is an overpayment or underpayment is irrelevant to the consideration of the appeal, and so records are not held of the number of appellants who had an overpayment or underpayment.

Tax Credits (Dagenham)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward of the Dagenham constituency claim (a) pension credit and (b) working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that the numbers of recipients of pension credit at 31 October 2004 were as follows:
	
		
			 Ward (Dagenham) Households in receipt of pension credit 
		
		
			 Alibon 530 
			 Chadwell Heath 540 
			 Eastbrook 455 
			 Heath 575 
			 Parsloes 530 
			 River 435 
			 Valence 645 
			 Village 465 
			 Whalebone 340 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All wards based on Census Wards current at April 2003. Census wards do not always nest precisely inside parliamentary constituencies. The wards of Parsloes and River cross over into Barking parliamentary constituency. Figures are for whole wards.
	2. Benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of 5 to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions.
	Estimates of the number of in-work families in each constituency receiving tax credits are published in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004. This can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	Estimates for April 2005 will be published in April or May 2005.
	Estimates for smaller areas are not currently available.

Unified Business Rate

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Treasury has to vary the unified business rate for small shops.

Dawn Primarolo: From 1 April 2005, all qualifying small businesses will be eligible for the small business rate relief. It is estimated that around 450,000 English small businesses, including many small shops, will benefit from the introduction of this relief. Beyond this, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to vary the unified business rate for small shops.

United States (British Visitors)

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of British citizens who have visited the USA (a) in the last 30 years, (b) in the last five years and (c) in the last year; and what estimate he has made of the proportion who obtained a visa for the visit.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 21 December 2004
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Peter Lilley, dated 10 January 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to answer your recent question asking Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of British citizens who have visited the USA (a) in the last 30 years, (b) in the last five years and (c) the last year; and what estimate he has made of the proportion who obtained a visa for the visit. I am replying in his absence.
	From the International Passenger Survey we can measure the number of visits to the USA made by UK residents in each of the periods requested.
	(a) 57,271,000
	(b) 19,594,000
	(c) 3,613,000
	(figures provided to nearest thousand)
	It should be noted that these represent the number of visits made by UK residents to the USA in each of the periods requested. As some people may make more than one visit, these figures are higher than the number of people who visited the USA. In addition, these are the number of visits to USA made by UK residents and that all UK residents are not necessarily British Citizens.
	The International Passenger Survey does not collect information on whether a visa was granted for these visits or not. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have attempted to obtain this information from the American Embassy but at the time of writing this data is not available. If the information does become available at a later stage, it should be noted that it will not be directly comparable with the figures derived from the IPS as one visa could be used for more than one trip and the number of visits each visa is used for is unknown.

Unleaded Petrol

Annabelle Ewing: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total tax payable on the average pump price of a litre of unleaded petrol was on 20 December 2004.

John Healey: The following table gives the total tax payable for the average pump price of a litre of ultra low sulphur unleaded petrol on Monday 20 December 2004.
	
		
			  Pence per litre 
		
		
			 Average pump price 81.46 
			 Amount of duty 47.10 
			 Amount of VAT 12.13 
			 Total Tax Payable 59.23

Waste Services

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify (a) the basis and (b) the evidence on which the 2004 comprehensive spending review's efficiency target of 300 million relating to waste service was set.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	Departmental proposals for, and the overall level of, efficiencies in environmental services were informed by consultation with Sir Peter Gershon's Efficiency Review team, the Local Government Association and other key organisations involved in this area. Detailed analysis was based on Defra's development of a new quantitative model, designed to support a robust, carefully modelled case for on-going government expenditure on waste as part of the 2004 Spending Review.
	The model's primary purpose is to predict local authorities' waste management costs, flows of materials and the range of new facilities needed for waste treatment to meet the EU Landfill Directive targets and deliver increased rates of recycling and recovery. Analysis of the scope for greater efficiency in waste services identified the potential for delivering gains through: greater joint working between local authorities; encouragement and communication of best procurement practice; stimulating industry to ensure timely delivery of a wider, better designed range of facilities; improved operation of the land-use planning system; increased markets for recyclates and compost; and, shifting local authority planning from the short-term to the long-term in order to minimise overall costs.
	Defra's Waste Implementation Programme already supports a range of activities to help local authorities drive up and re-orientate their waste management performance. Most will help deliver the improvements sought in the Efficiency Review, such as the targeted support being provided to improve procurement, and to stimulate industry to offer a wider, better designed range of facilities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Sales

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the amount of Indonesia's indebtedness to the UK is; and what proportion is attributable to the sale of military equipment.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 21 December 2004
	As at the end of November 2004, the Export Credits Guarantee Department had claims to the value of 749 million outstanding in relation to Indonesia. Of this, 551 million related to defence contracts.

Arms Sales

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much agent's commission the Export Credits Guarantee Department covered on the sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia; and what percentage of the contract the commission represented.

Douglas Alexander: Details of contractual arrangements (including agent's commission) are provided to ECGD by exporters in confidence.

Business (Impact of Legislation)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of the reviews carried out since 2001 on the working and impact of major pieces of legislation affecting business have been conducted by her Department; what changes to legislation were proposed as a result of each review; and if she will place copies of the reviews in the Library.

Patricia Hewitt: The major pieces of legislation reviewed by the Department of Trade and Industry since 2001 are:
	Consumer Credit Act 1974
	Renewables Obligation Order 2002 (reviewed three times for different aspects) Employment Relations Act 1999
	Directors Remuneration Report Regulations (assessed for compliance and the extent of changes to remuneration practices).
	Changes proposed as a result of these reviews include:
	Publication of White Paper Fair, Clear and Competitivethe Consumer Credit Market in the 21st century following review of Consumer Credit Act 1974, and work is in progress on draft legislation to reform the licensing system and improve consumer redress;
	Amendment Orders for the Renewables Obligation Order 2002;
	Employment Relations Act 2004 incorporated recommendations from the review of the Employment Relations Act 1999.
	The review of the Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations 2002 is ongoing.
	Copies of review documents are available in the Libraries of the House and on the. DTI website for all of the above-mentioned reviews except for that of the Directors Remuneration Report Regulations which is still on-going, and expected to be published in January 2005.

Business Support Initiatives

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been allocated to support (a) business start-ups and (b) SME growth in each enterprise area by region in the 200405 financial year.

Nigel Griffiths: Business start-ups and SME growth is not measured by Enterprise Area. This information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Conferences

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many conferences were (a) attended by officials from her Department, (b) cancelled by and (c) facilitated by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the (i) cost to the Department and (ii) location was in each case.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not maintain a central register of conferences organised by its various business units nor a register of conferences attended by individual officials and is therefore unable to provide the information requested.

Creche Facilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what crche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost.

Jacqui Smith: My Department is fully committed to providing an employment package which supports working parents and carers. DTI's provision is set within the wider context of an ambitious programme to support flexible working at all grades. DTI consults its staff and unions regularly on these issues. In a specific childcare survey DTI parents indicated that flexible working is the provision they value most highly. DTI's clear support for working parents has enabled us, over the last decade, to retain many talented parents who might otherwise have left the workplace.
	DTI staff in Central London have access to a thirty-two place holiday play-scheme in our 1 Victoria Street building which is highly rated by both parents and children for its quality. DTI HQ staff in Cardiff have access to a local holiday play-scheme.
	London-based DTI staff also have access to six full-time subsidized nursery places for under 5s, currently occupied by five children. DTI is actively working with the Interdepartmental Group on Childcare to establish a more strategic and joined up approach to childcare for all civil servants, especially in London. DTI's annual budget for childcare is 65,000.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: According to centrally held figures we have approximately 400 Government procurement cards in circulation. This figure fluctuates considerably due to changes in personnel and working procedures within Departments

Departmental Electrical Equipment

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many items of electrical equipment were used by her Department in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) cost and (b) number of each type of item.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department uses a wide variety of electrical equipment from major items of electrical plant in our buildings such as lifts, air conditioning systems, sewerage systems all of which will comprise many separate items of electrical equipment right down to small items of equipment on individual desks such as a desk lamp. The most common item of electrical equipment used is the standard desktop computer of which there are approximately 5,200 on the Departmental estate. The numbers and cost of individual items cannot be separately identified as they are an integral part of the main departmental physical and ICT infrastructure and managed accordingly.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by her Department in each year since 1997 on taskforces and similar bodies.

Jacqui Smith: Only the costs of the Small Business Investment Taskforce for 200001, 200102 and 200304 are separately identifiable. These were:
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200001 17 
			 200102 39 
			 200304 60 
		
	
	The Small Business Investment Taskforce's costs for 200203 and those of DTI's other Taskforces and similar bodies are not identified separately within DTI's Accounts and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases there were in each year and what the costs of each settlement were.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Patricia Hewitt: The cost of DTI travel within the UK in each year since 1998 was:
	
		
		
			  Cost of travel 
		
		
			 199899 6,026,861 
			 19992000 6,735,828 
			 200001 7,032,027 
			 200102 7,602,641 
			 200203 6,883,983 
			 200304 10,996,512 
		
	
	DTI UK travel costs for 199798 are not stored electronically and it would entail disproportionate cost to gather that data.
	The cost of DTI UK hotel accommodation within the UK in each year since 1997 was:
	
		
		
			  Cost of hotel accommodation 
		
		
			 199798 760,867 
			 199899 801,623 
			 19992000 745,315 
			 200001 928,188 
			 200102 1,009,618 
			 200203 1,188,627 
			 200304 1,090,040 
		
	
	To provide information about how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence would entail disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Since the year 2000 the DTI spend on first class travel has been:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 2000 1,976,186 
			 2001 2,068,054 
			 2002 2,325,339 
			 2003 2,128,531 
			 2004 1,525,584 
		
	
	Figures prior to 2000 are not available.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were for each trip.

Patricia Hewitt: Since 1 January 2000, the number of overseas trips made by DTI was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 13,139 
			 2001 13,301 
			 2002 12,855 
			 2003 12,560 
			 2004 9,307 
		
	
	Since 1998, the total costs of overseas trips made by DTI was:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199899 5,019,971 
			 19992000 5,291,063 
			 200001 5,470,024 
			 200102 4,912,785 
			 200203 5,583,825 
			 200304 4,260,257 
		
	
	DTI UK travel costs for 199798 are not stored electronically and it would entail disproportionate cost to provide that data.
	To provide information about how much was spent on (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence for each trip would entail disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by her Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: My Department has been undertaking a major space management programme since 2001. This has required the following investment in new furniture to introduce flexible workspace and significant space dividends across the London HQ estate, which will result in releasing a number of its buildings. Information prior to 2001 is not available. DTI has not hired any furniture since 1987.
	
		
			 Financial year  million (ex. VAT) 
		
		
			 200102 1.845 
			 200203 3.629 
			 200304 1.664 
			 200405 0.714

Departmental IT Projects

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list her Department's IT projects in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) amount spent, (b) purpose, (c) cost of over-run and (d) time of over-run.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has had a PFI contract for the provision of IT services since 1999, where IT project costs are borne by the supplier. IT systems also form part of other outsourced business services. Under these contracts my Department pays service charges that include IT systems development and support costs.
	Since 1997 my Department has introduced many IT systems and services some of which are identified as follows:
	
		
			  IT system Service 
		
		
			 199798 DRMS Database of Departmental files 
			 1998 RAB Departmental Accounting System 
			 1999 Elgar IT Desktop, network infrastructure and support services 
			 200103 Matrix Departmental Electronic Records System 
			 200203 Calipsoe Departmental HR system 
			 200203 Mentor Departmental Accounting Services (including IT Services) 
			 2004 Capri Ministers Correspondence Tracking System 
			 2004 JI/CMS Web hosting and content management services 
		
	
	Before the award of the PFI contract in 1999, central records of IT expenditure included only central corporate infrastructure. These records show that total IT spend in millions was:
	
		 million
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 199899 12.1 
			 19992000 15.0 
			 200001 30.0 
			 200102 32.0 
			 200203 41.0 
			 200304 41.9 
		
	
	Further detail is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Lighting

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by her Department on lighting in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not keep separate records on how much it spends on lighting. Items such as replacement tubes and bulbs and disposal costs are embedded within the charges for our maintenance contract. Energy for lighting is not separately metered.
	Total electricity costs on the DTI HQ estate over the period is as follows of which about one third currently comes from renewable sources.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200304 836,782 
			 200203 758,152 
			 200102 855,086 
			 200001 928,845 
			 19992000 1,035,770 
			 199899 916,590 
			 199798 1,064,612

Departmental Pay Gap

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the gender pay gap amongst staff in her Department.

Jacqui Smith: My Department completed an equal pay review in 2003 and put in place an action plan to address any concerns.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a written ministerial statement to the House on 10 March 2004, Official Report, column 102 WS, to advise that Action Plans for the DTI and its Agencies had been published and posted on the DTI Website. http://www.dti.gov.uk/about_dti_documents.html
	Copies of the Action Plans have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Plants

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department spent on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department does not record details of the costs of plants and we are therefore unable to provide a break down of the costs as required. The Department currently has a mixture of rented and bought plants, indoor and outdoor planting.
	Our records for total plant costs only date back to 2001 and the breakdown of the spend is as follows:
	
		
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 200102 34,659.60 
			 200203 30,422.16 
			 200304 31,048.97 
			 200405 25,165.06

Departmental Refurbishment

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of refurbishments in her Department was in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department undertakes a wide variety of projects as part of on-going maintenance and improvements of its existing buildings. The cost of significant works to the building services and fabric since 1997 are shown by complete financial years as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 199798 2 
			 199899 2 
			 19992000 2.15 
			 200001 1.4 
			 200102 4.32 
			 200203 1.23 
			 200304 2.3 
			 200405 7.73 
		
	
	The costs in 200405 relate to a major programme of investment in rationalising our London estate which will result in the vacation of three buildings currently costing 8 million per annum. Plans for works during 200506 are still being developed and firm estimates are not yet available.

Departmental Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by her Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Patricia Hewitt: The call centres of two services provided by contractors on behalf of my department use 0870 numbers:
	The Sixth EU Framework Programme UK Information Point (FP6UK) provides one number for general enquiries on the rules for participation in the programme (plus fax and Minicom numbers) and six numbers for more technical advice on specific themes. This supplements a web-based service.
	The Publications Orderline uses three numbers (general orderline, fax and Minicom) for those customers who do not wish to use the online ordering service for DTI publications.
	My Department is currently reviewing the provision of its helplines and, following the issue of Central Office of Information Better Practice Guidance for Government contact centres in September 2004, the use of 0870 numbers.

Departmental Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much revenue her Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Patricia Hewitt: None.

Disabled Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the staff employed by her Department have a declared disability.

Jacqui Smith: The Department collects disability data on a voluntary basis. The information tabulated as follows is extracted from our personnel records database and gives the current position in DTI Headquarters (including Small Business Service) at 1 December 2004:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Number of staff employed 3,962 
			 Number of staff employed with a declared disability 251

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: My Department's policy on the storage of documents is that electronic documents should be stored in the Department's electronic records management system (ERMS) if they relate to the work of DTI and contain valuable information about, or evidence of, the activities of DTI. Paper documents that need to be retained and cannot be scanned should be stored on official departmental files.
	Documents in the ERMS and in official files will be deleted in accordance with existing departmental retention policies, which vary depending on the category of record. Some will be retained permanently in the national archives.
	Documents that are not stored in the ERMS or on official files should be deleted as soon as they have ceased to be of use.
	The Department's policy on the use of shredders follows central guidance issued by the Cabinet Office.
	These policies have not been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Electromagnetic Fields

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is taken to protect biological systems exposed to electromagnetic fields at public supply system frequencies.

Mike O'Brien: On the advice of the National Radiological Protection Board, the Government have adopted the guidelines of the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection on public exposure to electromagnetic fields. Exposure to electromagnetic fields at public supply frequencies ought to be within the basic restrictions given in the guidelines.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The Department's policy on the storage of e-mails has been reviewed and revised this year in accordance with guidance issued by the Cabinet Office. The policy is that e-mails should be stored in the Department's electronic records management system (ERMS) if they relate to the work of DTI and contain valuable information about, or evidence of, the activities of DTI.
	E-mails in the ERMS will be deleted in accordance with existing departmental retention policies, which vary depending on the category of record. Some will be retained permanently in the national archives.
	E-mails that are not stored in the ERMS should be deleted as soon as they have ceased to be of use.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in her Department were employed to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Jacqui Smith: The staff in my Department allocated centrally to administer Freedom of Information Act issues are set out in the following table.
	The table excludes centrally allocated legal advisers and secretarial support.
	
		
			  Number of staff Pay range 
		
		
			 2001 1.5 R10, R7, R3 
			 2002 1.5 R10, R7, R3 
			 2003 3.5 R11, R7, R5, R3 
			 2004 3.5 R11, R7, R5, R3 
			 2005 3.5 R11, R9, R7, R5 
			 2006 3.5 R11, R9, R7, R5 
		
	
	Staff in this table also have responsibility for administering the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and the Data Protection and Welsh Language Acts. Beyond those staff directly involved in the on-going implementation and application of FOI within a Department, it is difficult to identify precisely the number of officials who will be dealing with Freedom of Information issues from 1 January 2005, since it is potentially part of every civil servant's role to respond to Freedom of Information requests.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information have been answered by her Department within 20 working days since 1 January 2002; what the longest time taken by her Department to answer a request under the code since 1 January 2002 has been; and what steps she is taking to prevent delays to answers under the code.

Jacqui Smith: My Department monitors correspondence, including requests, against the Whitehall Standards 15 working day target, rather than the 20 working day target of the Open Government Code. The annual correspondence figures, collected on a financial year basis, and the number which met the 15 working day target are shown as follows.
	
		
			  Volume Number that were answered in 15 days Percentage 
		
		
			 200102 82,000 78,000 95 
			 200203 72,000 70,000 97 
			 200304 92,000 90,000 98 
		
	
	The longest time taken to answer a request under the code was seven months.
	From 1 January 2005, requests for information will be administered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act which sets a general deadline for responding to requests of 20 working days. Through a comprehensive training and awareness programme, staff have been made aware of the importance of responding to requests within that deadline and the departmental records management system is under a programme of continual improvement.

Freedom of Information Act

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safeguards private companies have that the flows of commercial-in-confidence information between them and public bodies will not be compulsorily divulged under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Jacqui Smith: The Freedom of Information Act provides a range of exemptions to protect information provided to public authorities. Those exemptions which are not absolute are subject to a public interest test. In the case of commercial-in-confidence information, relevant exemptions include the absolute exemption provided at section 41 of the Act, protecting information whose disclosure would constitute an actionable breach of confidence, and the non absolute exemption at section 43 of the Act, protecting information whose disclosure would prejudice the commercial interests of any person. These exemptions among others are likely to apply to information provided as commercial in confidence.

Fuel Poverty

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research her Department has undertaken to ascertain the effect on households in fuel poverty of increases in fuel prices.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Our research suggests that the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty is likely to rise by a limited amount in 2004 and 2005perhaps by up to 200,000 vulnerable households in England over this period. This figure represents the combined effects of gas and electricity price increases countered by other measures that we have put in place on incomes and benefits. The assumptions behind this estimate are set out in two DTI publications which accompanied publication of the Fuel Poverty in England: The Government's Plan for Action on November 30. These internet publications are available to view at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consumers/fuel_poverty/index.shtml.
	Any potential increase in the numbers can be set against the very real progress that has been made: the number of households in fuel poverty in the UK has fallen by over three million since 1996, to 2.25 million in 2002 and further reductions are expected in the figure for 2003. In England, there has been a fall from the 1996 figure of 4.3 million households (three million vulnerable) to 1.4 million (1.2 million vulnerable) in 2002. The Government remains committed to achieving its target of seeking an end to the problem of fuel poverty in England in vulnerable households by 2010 as far as is reasonably practicable. .
	Fuel poverty is devolved, and therefore the devolved administrations will be looking at how they each will meet their fuel poverty targets.

Fuel Poverty

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the recent changes in the cost of fuel oil on the number of households in fuel poverty;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of households which rely on oil based heating systems; and what assessment she has made of the effect on such households of recent changes in the cost of fuel oil.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 13 December 2004
	As fuel poverty is devolved, therefore this answer covers England only.
	My Department has considered the impacts of gas and electricity prices on fuel poverty for England. The results of this analysis were published in the Government's Fuel Poverty Action Plan, and suggests that the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty is likely to rise by a limited amount in 2004 and 2005, perhaps by up to 200,000 vulnerable households in England over the period. We monitor the number of households in fuel poverty through the English House Condition Survey, with figures for 2003 becoming available in April 2005.
	According to the 2001 English House Condition Survey, around 700,000 (3.3 per cent.) of dwellings in England used oil-fired central heating as their main form of space heating. Of these households, around 150,000 are likely to be vulnerable households in fuel poverty. Estimated heating oil prices for 2004 are around 20 per cent. higher than those in 2001. This will have increased the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty who use heating oil. There are a number of uncertainties about exactly how many households will be brought into fuel poverty by changes in the price of heating oil, but it is likely to be significantly less than 50,000 vulnerable households.
	The Government remain committed to achieving their target of seeking an end to the problem of fuel poverty in England in vulnerable households by 2010 as far as is reasonably practicable. Additionally, any potential increase in the numbers can be set against the very real progress that has been made: the number of households in fuel poverty in the UK has fallen by over three million since 1996, to 2.25 million in 2002 and further reductions are expected in 2003.

IT Policy Breaches

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in her Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: Information is not available for 1997, 1998 and 1999 as details of disciplinary offences are not normally retained for periods of longer than five years.
	
		IT related disciplinary offences in Department of Trade and Industry
		
			  Number of staff who faced disciplinary proceedings Number of staff receiving formal warnings 
		
		
			 2000 2 2 
			 2001 5 5 
			 2002 5 4 
			 2003 7 7 
			 2004 (to date) 12 10

Manufacturing Advisers

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the average time spent by advisers from the Manufacturing Advisory Service on (a) diagnostic and (b) advisory visits was in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average time spent by advisers from the Manufacturing Advisory Service on diagnostic and advisory visits was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) provides four levels of service:
	Level 1
	Handling of telephone and on-line inquiries from manufacturing companies.
	Level 2
	Diagnostic visits by manufacturing advisors of a up to a day in duration (average figures are not compiled.
	Level 3
	Training events, seminars and workshops.
	Level 4
	In-depth consultancy up to 10 days.

Miners' Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when using lie detecting speech technology to assess former miners providing information in connection with their claims for work-related illness and their families was first proposed to the Department; and by which agency.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 21 December 2004
	The Department is continually looking at ways in which it can speed up valid claims and using speech technology to do this is one option, which officials explored. Initial discussions involving the Department's contractors took place in October. I have since made it clear that there is no intention to use such technology..

Miners' Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether lie detecting speech technology has been piloted on former miners claiming damages for work-related illnesses and their families by the (a) without the knowledge of the claimant and (b) with the knowledge of her Department.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 21 December 2004
	No such trials have been conducted.

Miners' Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the proposed use of lie detecting speech technology on former miners claiming damages for work-related illnesses and their families was discussed with the claimants' group of solicitors.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 21 December 2004
	Speech technology is increasingly being used by the insurance industry to speed up claims handling. Its use to speed up the handling process for vibration services claims (where a significant number are proving to be exaggerated) was explored by officials. I have made it clear that there is no intention to proceed with the use of such technology and consequently no discussions with the claimants' groups of solicitors has been necessary.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether activities of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have been declared outwith EU treaty rules on state aids.

Mike O'Brien: No. The activities of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) have not been declared outwith EC treaty rules on state aid. We notified the European Commission of our intention to support the creation of the NDA in December 2003. The Commission announced a formal investigation into state aid to the NDA on 1 December 2004. This announcement confirmed that the transitional arrangements under which the NDA will start work on 1 April 2005 do not involve state aid. We will work closely with the Commission throughout their investigation.

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what salary is paid to the (a) chair, (b) chief executive and (c) board members of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets; and how many hours work per week each is expected to undertake.

Mike O'Brien: The chairman of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the authority), under whose direction the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) operates, receives 90,000 pa for three days work per week. The non-executive members receive 20,000 pa for about three days work a month.
	Executive members of the authority are paid as full-time senior managers of Ofgem and do not receive any additional salary in respect of their appointment to the authority. The chief executive is paid in the range 160,000 to 165,000 and the other executives are paid in the range of 110,000 to 135,000

Public Procurement (EC Rules)

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure EU partners effectively implement EC rules on public procurement.

Patricia Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently asked Alan Wood of Seimens UK to investigate British business experiences of competing for public contracts in other EU countries.
	His report was published in November 2004 and can be found at http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1001521.
	The Government will continue to push for a consistent approach to public procurement across the EU, and to provide assistance where appropriate within EU regulations to ensure British business can compete and win such contracts.

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down the funding from the Regional Venture Capital Fund programme by industrial sector.

Nigel Griffiths: As follows is a break down of investments, as at 30 November 2004, by industrial sector.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Communications 27 
			 Computer Related 49 
			 Other Electronic Related 14 
			 Biotechnology 10 
			 Medical/Health Related 10 
			 Energy 0 
			 Consumer Related 23 
			 Industrial Products and Services 15 
			 Chemicals and Materials 3 
			 Industrial Automation 5 
			 Other Manufacturing 20 
			 Transportation 0 
			 Financial Services 0 
			 Other Services 34 
			 Agriculture 0 
			 Construction 3 
			 Other 5 
			 Total: 218

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the enterprises in England which have received funding from the Regional Venture Capital Fund in the last 12 months; and how much was received by each enterprise.

Nigel Griffiths: Each RVCF is legally bound by a commercial confidential Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA). The Department being an investor in each RVCF, and a signatory of the LPA is unable to provide the information requested.

Missing Departmental Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many items of civil service property within her Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to his question number 206375 earlier today.

Missing Departmental Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the property belonging to her Department that has been (a) stolen and (b) reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's records do not readily differentiate between items reported as stolen or lost. A breakdown between the two is not held in an easily accessible form and can, therefore, be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the details of all missing official property, i.e. items used for official purposes, but some of which may actually be owned by the Department's contractors, are set out as follows for each of the years requested. (It should be noted that some of the laptops and mobile telephones listed may have been personal items belonging to members of staff).
	
		
			   Item missing Number of items 
		
		
			 1997 Answering machine 2 
			
			 1998 Laptop computer 1 
			  Mobile phone and charger 1 
			  IT equipment  
			  Answer phone and handset 1 
			
			 1999 Telephone and answer phone 1 
			  Hewlett Packard desk printer 1 
			  Mobile phone 4 
			  Dictaphone 2 
			  Laptop computers 2 
			  Computer printer 1 
			  Answer phone/telephone 3 
			  Cordless drill, charger and spirit level 1 
			  Computer/monitor/mouse 1 
			
			 2000 Mobile phone 6 
			  Lap top computer 2 
			  Dictaphone 1 
			  Digital camera 1 
			  Colour scanner 1 
			  TV and video player 1 
			
			 2001 Mobile phone 7 
			  Lap top computer 7 
			  Modem and lead 1 
			  Big screen flat computer 1 
			  Digital camera 1 
			
			 2002 Mobile phone 22 
			  Laptop computer 27 
			  Computer flat screen 8 
			  Floppy disc and C drive 1 
			  Computer base unit 2 
			  Mini DVD player 1 
			  Fax machine 1 
			  Camcorder 1 
			  Multimedia speakers 1 
			  Flat screen computer 1 
			  Digital camera 1 
			  Lipro projector 1 
			  Drive for laptop 1 
			  Glass screen filter 1 
			  Monitor riser 1 
			  Mesh screen filter 1 
			  Mobile phone charger 1 
			  Personal digital assistant 1 
			  Laminating machine 1 
			  Dyno labelling machine 1 
			  Laser jet printer 1 
			  Data projector 1 
			  PDA palm VX 1 
			  Palm top organiser 1 
			  Pocket PC with cable 1 
			
			 2003 Mobile phone 22 
			  Laptop computer 37 
			  Computer flat screen 3 
			  Vacuum cleaners 3 
			  Ladders 3 
			  Computer mouse 2 
			  Answer machine 1 
			  CD writer and cables 1 
			  Cordless drill and attachments 1 
			  Battery phone charger 1 
			  Sky viewing card 1 
			  Mouse and keyboard 1 
			  Projector and screen 1 
			  Docking station 1 
			  Computer memory card 1 
			  Conference phone 1 
			  External CD driver 1 
			  Digital camera 1 
			  Palm top organiser 1 
			  Business card scanner 1 
			
			 2004 Mobile phone 26 
			  Laptop computer 20 
			  Adjustable spanners 2 
			  Multi meters (measuring electricity) 2 
			  Infrared thermometers 2 
			  Camera and torch and batteries 1 
			  TV remote control 1 
			  Portable TVs 2 
			  Computer keyboard 1 
			  Computer mice 3 
			  Cordless mice 2 
			  Universal serial bus (IT connection device) 12 
			  FujitsuSiemen LOOx PDA 2 
			  Broadband router box 1 
			  PC with flat screen 1 
			  Kitchen knives (from restaurant)  
			  Digital camera 1 
			  Memory stick 1 
			  Floppy drive 1

Swan Hunter

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support the Department has given to the Swan Hunter shipyard in the last 30 years.

Jacqui Smith: Swan Hunter (Shipbuilders) Ltd went into receivership in 1993 and all records related to DTI contact with them have been archived. Consequently, information on financial support to that defunct company could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd was established in 1995. Since then, DTI has awarded just one grant of 1.2 million in September 2000 under the Regional Selective Assistance programme.

Trade and Industry Conferences

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  which international trade and industry conferences have been attended by members of the Government in the past 12 months; on what occasions Labour Members have attended such conferences as part of the official delegation; and what places she has made available to Opposition parties to attend these conferences as part of the official delegation;
	(2)  whether all the places offered to the Government for delegates to attend international trade and industry conferences during the last 12 months have been filled.

Douglas Alexander: The range and format of international trade and industry conferences is broad. Attendance at such conferences by members of the Government, Labour hon. Members and opposition party members is on the basis of business need and meeting international obligations. The Government does not collate data on the range of trade and industry conferences, the allocation of invitations and the acceptance figures for delegates attending. Full details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Women Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many women there are in senior positions in her Department.

Patricia Hewitt: In my Department 20 of the top management posts are filled by women. This is 33 per cent. of the total number of DTI Senior Civil Servants in Pay Bands 2 and 3.

TRANSPORT

A628 Mottram Bypass

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the A628 Mottram Bypass, with particular reference to the spur to Glossop.

Alistair Darling: The proposed A628 Mottram to Tintwistle Bypass is a trunk road scheme promoted by the Highways Agency. Subject to successful completion of statutory procedures, the scheme is expected to commence construction in 200708.
	The proposed Glossop Spur is a local road scheme promoted by Tameside Metropolitan borough council. This scheme was provisionally approved for funding through the local transport programme in December 2000. Final funding approval will be considered following completion of the necessary statutory processes and value for money assessments and in the light of discussions with the region about the prioritisation of schemes and the availability of resources.

Aircraft Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British airline operators with regard to concerns expressed by insurance companies over the costs of potential damage arising from the use of a radioactive dirty bomb on an aircraft.

Charlotte Atkins: None.

Bus Lanes

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue regulations to allow camera enforcement of bus lanes outside London; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: It is intended that the bus lane enforcement regulations, which will allow camera enforcement of bus lanes outside London, will be made in spring 2005.

Concorde

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Government has received from (a) industry and (b) the public regarding options for restoring a Concorde aircraft to flying condition; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The Government has not received any representations from industry about restoring a Concorde aircraft to flying condition. Between April 2003 and December 2004, the Department for Transport received 164 letters from the public on this subject, including a 20,000 signature petition from the 'Save Concorde Group'.
	Restoring Concorde aircraft to flying condition is a matter for British Airways as the owner and operator of the UK Concorde fleet.

Concorde

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who owns the patent for the technical specifications, diagrams and related items for Concorde; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: Airbus UK and Airbus Industrie together own the design data, technical specifications, diagrams and related items for the Concorde fleet.
	Selling or transferring this data to a third party is a commercial matter for Airbus.

Conferences

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many conferences were (a) attended by officials from his Department, (b) cancelled by and (c) facilitated by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the (i) cost to the Department and (ii) location was in each case.

Charlotte Atkins: This information is not held centrally and to collate it would incur disproportionate cost.

Congestion

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government plans to publish annual figures on levels of congestion in the UK following the publication of the new congestion measure and accompanying target in 2005.

Charlotte Atkins: Progress against all Public Service Agreement targets is reported every spring in departmental reports, with updates provided in autumn performance reports. We also intend to publish annual long-term projections of congestion.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his target time is in 200405 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in his Office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department aims to reply to all letters as soon as possible and has a target time for replying to letters from hon. Members of 15 working days from their receipt. Information on the departmental handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament/Peers is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The 2003 annual report is available in the Library of the House.
	There is currently no target time for replying to letters received by the Central Department from members of the public. The Department's executive agencies do have target times for replying to such letters, which are:
	
		
			  Number of working days 
		
		
			 Highways Agency 15 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 10 
			 Driving Standards Agency 10 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 15 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 5 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 10

Crossrail

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) consultants and (b) employees are employed by the Crossrail project team.

Alistair Darling: At Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL) 101 staff are employed on the Crossrail project. A number of consultancy firms provide expertise to CLRL to plan the railway and develop bill documentation. The number of consultants employed from time to time is dependent on the volume of work being undertaken. Currently, there are 90 consultants employed on the project.
	At the Department for Transport the full-time equivalent of nine staff plus an advisory team of four consultants are currently employed on the project.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by his Department.

Charlotte Atkins: None. The Department uses charge cards for official expenditure. 2,244 charge cards are currently held by the central Department and its agencies.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been of criminal damage to his Department's buildings in each of the last two years.

Charlotte Atkins: The cost of criminal damage in DfT for 200203 was 27,423. In 200304 the cost was 74,080 although this included 13,127 for the cost of security guarding at a DVLA Local Office which was an additional cost arising from criminal damage.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and as a result the information provided relates to the period covering 200203 and 200304.
	We are unable to be specific about the costs of furniture or furniture hire alone as the costs are often recorded in a general furniture and fittings budget which includes the provision of other accommodation supplies. To specifically identify cost information for just furniture across the Department's large estate would involve disproportionate cost. However, DfT Central comprising DfT HQ in London and Hastings, the Air Accidents and Marine Accidents Investigation Branches and the Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service spent 0.073 million on furniture and fittings in 200203 and 1.519 million in 200304. The six DfT agencies together spent 2.016 million in 200203 and 2.659 million in 200304.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of refurbishments in his Department was in each year since 1997; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and as a result the information provided only relates from the years 200203 onwards:
	For details on refurbishment costs for 200203 and 200304, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 December 2004, Official Report, column l355W, to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow). The forecast outturn for 200405 and estimated spend for 200506 are set out in the following table but figures are subject to change depending on priorities and budget allocations.
	
		
			 DfT Unit Refurbishment cost outturn 200405 ( million) Refurbishment costs estimated spend 200506 ( million) 
		
		
			 DfT Headquarters 0.460 0.150 
			 Air Accidents Investigation Branch 0 0.025 
			 Driving Standards Agency 0.396 0.200 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 4.211 (5507180035)3.850 
			 Highways Agency 0 0.800 
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch 0.045 0 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1.100 0.260 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 0.199 0.400 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 0 
			 TOTAL 6.411 5.685 
		
	
	(5507180035) DVLA will be entering into a large PFI contract in 200506 which includes services and amongst other items the refurbishment of a large portion of the Morriston estate in Swansea which is estimated to cost approximately 31million. It is not possible at this stage to allocate in which year these costs will be incurred.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department on lighting in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: This information is not collected centrally and is not available without disproportionate cost. The costs of providing the lighting equipment are often undifferentiated from other mechanical and electrical service costs and are not accounted for separately in the individual finance systems. The energy consumption used by lighting is not measured specifically and therefore the costs are not identified separately from the general energy costs of electrical equipment across the DfT estate.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: Neither the records kept by the Department for Transport, nor those of its Executive Agencies, differentiate between first class and standard class travel. The information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	All travel undertaken by Ministers and civil servants in the Department for Transport complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers, and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Charlotte Atkins: The property details for the Department as at 1 December 2004 are shown in the attached table:
	
		
			 Department for Transport Unit No of Properties Total Floor Space ALA (m 2 ) No. Vacant Properties Vacant Floor Space ALA (m 2 ) 
		
		
			 Department for Transport HQ 3 19,002 0 0 
			 Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) 1 4,836 0 0 
			 Marine Accidents Investigations Branch (MAIB) 1 820 0 0 
			 Mobility Advice and Information Vehicle Service  (MAVIS) 1 786 0 0 
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 460 43,828 1 185 
			 Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 55 90,491 1 385 
			 Highways Agency (HA) 546 51,700 76 Not Recorded 
			 Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) 501 41,795 3 552 
			 Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (VOSA) 111 113,500 0 0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VGA) 2 2,160 0 0 
			 Total 1,681 368,918 81 (5507180036)1,122 
		
	
	(5507180036) Does not include HA vacant floor space (unrecorded).
	Notes:
	1. ALAAgents Letting Area
	2. The figures for HA include 495 residential properties relating to the Targeted
	Programme of Improvement in the strategic road network and floor space data for
	these properties are not held.
	3. The MCA figures include helicopter sites and remote radio sites;
	4. VOSA figures include operational test stations.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which his Department's policies are meeting the needs of ethnic minorities.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport is committed to valuing diversity and promoting equality. We published our first Race Equality Scheme on 31 March 2003. The Scheme covers the activities of the Department and its Executive Agencies as an employer as well as a policy maker and service provider.
	The Scheme has built on the results of extensive research, which the Department has carried out to identify the specific transport needs of people from different ethnic and faith communities.
	Race Equality Impact Assessments are being completed across all areas of our business to inform the preparation of a departmental action plan which will feature as part of the revised Departmental Race Equality Scheme for the period 2005 -08. This will be available on the departmental website from April 2005.
	In addition to this, the DfT and its Agencies follow Cabinet Office guidelines on consultation to ensure policies meet the needs of ethnic minorities in the first instance and for employees we make use of in-house staff networks to monitor policies/practices which have been implemented.

First Group

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the Strategic Rail Authority will take account of the actions of First Group in the United States when deciding on the franchise of the east coast line;
	(2)  whether it is within the remit of the Strategic Rail Authority to take into account the poor punctuality and reliability of First Group's buses when deciding on the franchise of the East Coast Line.

Tony McNulty: The Directions and Guidance to the SRA set out the factors to be considered when letting a franchise. However, the SRA are not specifically required to take into account any non-rail operations undertaken by bidders. The SRA issued formal Invitations to Tender for the ICEC franchise on 6 October 2004 and are currently evaluating the bids.
	The new recently announced pre-qualification questionnaire arrangements for use in the forthcoming Greater Western and Thameslink/GN franchises will take account of an operator's past performance.

First Group

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department will take to ensure that First Group's Yellow buses meet safety requirements.

David Jamieson: The First Group yellow school buses that are currently being trialled are required to comply with the same safety regulations as any passenger service vehicle operating on the public highway.

Freedom Pass

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of operating the freedom pass was to local authorities in London in the last year for which figures are available; and how many pensioners are eligible from each constituency.

Charlotte Atkins: The Freedom Pass scheme is managed and operated on behalf of the London boroughs by the Association of London Government (ALG), who report that the scheme cost 169 million in 200304. No data are available on the number of eligible pensioners in each parliamentary constituency.

HSE Staff (Relocation)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Health and Safety Executive staff will be relocated as a result of their transfer to the Office of the Rail Regulator.

Tony McNulty: This matter is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive and the Office of Rail Regulation as part of the transition programme. No decisions about location have yet been taken.

Local Transport Plans

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will seek to ensure that local authority expenditure on the local road network matches central Government allocations over the five-year period of the local transport plans.

David Jamieson: Most revenue and capital allocations for the local road network are indicative and are not ring fenced. It is for local authorities to decide priorities for spending their resources on the various services they provide.

M40

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic and noise projections were made for the stretch of the M40 that passes through the Chilterns at the time of its widening in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The M40 passes through the Chilterns between junctions 4 and 5. This stretch of motorway was widened in 199091. Traffic and noise projections will have been produced as part of the preparation for this widening scheme. The Highways Agency holds some historical records for past motorway and trunk road schemes and extensive searches of its archives have produced extracts which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The noise related figures are taken from a report commissioned in 1988 and the traffic figures are taken from a report of the feasibility study in 1987. Both of these reports were commissioned prior to the widening scheme commencing. The Highways Agency is continuing to search for the full report, however earlier searches have not been successful.

Motorways

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how the development of high occupancy vehicle lanes will affect the flow of traffic on motorways.

David Jamieson: The benefit of high occupancy vehicle lanes is that they facilitate the movement of more people per lane, reducing peak hour travel times while maintaining safety and reducing pollution. The introduction of the lanes should result in some drivers choosing to leave their cars at home or a convenient parking point and car share with others. This should result in a net decrease in traffic on the motorway, on the local network leading to the motorway and on the return journey home. This should help to reduce congestion associated with each of these journeys.

Rail Organisation

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of how many staff will be employed in his Department's new rail organisation; and how the estimate was calculated.

Tony McNulty: I estimate that the total number of staff which will be employed in the new Rail Group of the Department for Transport after the transfer of responsibilities from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Secretary of State will be in the region of 250300. This compares with a total of about 530 people currently employed in the SRA and the Rail Directorates of the Department. The estimate is an indicative figure, based on the new approach to the strategic direction of the rail industry outlined in The Future of Rail and discussions with key figures in the Authority and other industry organisations. It will be refined during further design work which will take place early in 2005.

Railway Bridge (Colindale)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assist in bearing the cost of widening the railway bridge over Aerodrome road, Colindale; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Following the establishment of the Mayor for London in 2000, responsibility for allocating capital funding for London borough local transport schemes, such as widening of the Aerodrome road bridges in Colindale, was transferred from central Government to Transport for London.

Special Advisers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many special advisers there are in the Department, broken down by Civil Service pay grade.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 December 2004 Official Report, column 1640W.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants from his Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was established in May 2002 following machinery of Government changes. The Department's policy setting out disciplinary action that might be taken against staff accused of theft is contained in the Departmental Staff Handbook.
	Since the Department was established, one member of staff was investigated for alleged theft. The individual was not subsequently charged with theft. This was in 2003.

Strategic Rail Authority

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the current grading structure of the Strategic Rail Authority is; what the (a) pay minimum and (b) pay maximum is for each grade; and what the equivalent civil service grade is for each SRA grade;
	(2)  how many staff are employed in the Strategic Rail Authority broken down by grade.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 SRA grade Pay band minimum () Pay band maximum () Number of staff in grade Equivalent DfT pay band 
		
		
			 A 12,916 17,238 3 Pay band 1 
			 B 16,177 24,852 40 Pay band 2 
			 C 22,713 34,677 95 Pay bands 3/4 
			 D 32,479 48,906 101 Pay bands 5/6 
			 E 46,643 65,271 81 Pay band 7 
			 F 54,761 114,999 67 SCS band 1 
			 G 75,570 158,808 40 SCS band 2 
			 H 90,000 192,000 11 SCS band 3 
			 Total   438  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. As at 1 December 2004.
	2. Staff numbers exclude Rail Passengers' Council.
	3. Equivalent means having pay falling into broadly the same range as the relevant SRA grade.

Tilbury Town Railway Bridge

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct his officials to visit the railway bridge at Tilbury Town to examine its compliance with disability and mobility rights legislation.

Tony McNulty: It is the responsibility of the railway operators to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) provides guidance to operators about making train and station services accessible for disabled passengers. I have been informed by the SRA that the train operating company responsible for Tilbury Town station, c2c, is investigating the possibility of providing ramp access to the footbridge to improve accessibility for disabled passengers.

Timetable Changes (Maidenhead)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation his Department has received regarding the recent timetable changes on routes from Paddington to Maidenhead and Twyford.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport has received a small number of representations requesting information or expressing concern about the changes to the service pattern from Maidenhead and Twyford to London that were implemented in the December timetable change.

Timetable Changes (Maidenhead)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department proposes to take to reduce overcrowding and ensure safety following the introduction of the new train timetable on routes from Paddington to Maidenhead and Twyford.

Tony McNulty: Trains are designed to operate safely when fully loaded. The Strategic Rail Authority will meet First Great Western Link (FOWL) during January to assess crowding and identify with FOWL any action necessary.

Train Overcrowding

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is given to train operating companies on preventing dangerous levels of overcrowding on commuter trains.

Tony McNulty: Commuter train operators are required to carry out passenger counts to demonstrate that adequate capacity is provided to accommodate the passengers expected throughout the morning and evening peak periods. This ensures that franchise operators properly address the issue of capacity requirements in peak periods, whilst accepting that the railway provides a walk-on service, that forecasting demand in advance is not an exact science and that loadings, even on the same train, can vary from day to day or week to week.

Transport Projects (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of investment in local transport projects in Coventry was in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was spent in the West Midlands region during the period.

Charlotte Atkins: Capital expenditure on local transport projects in Coventry during 200304 amounted to 6.437 million. Expenditure across the West Midlands region for 200304 totalled 187.936 million. Figures are taken from the 2004 Annual Progress Reports for Local Transport Plans.

Vehicle Registration

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been of providing new style V5C registration certificates to comply with the European Directive on harmonising vehicle registration certificates; and what the estimated total costs, including postage costs, will be of the replacement of all UK vehicle registration certificates.

David Jamieson: The European Directive 1999/37/EC, which came into effect on 1 June 2004, requires all member states to introduce a common format for vehicle registration certificates. This is intended to facilitate the identification of vehicles in international traffic and in re-registration in other member states.
	The costs directly related to the design and preparation of the forms and project planning were approximately 0.9 million, with a further 5.2 million system change and development costs to accommodate the additional information now held and printed onto the new harmonised registration certificates.
	The legislation does not require the replacement of existing documents until a reissue is requested, so that additional running costs would not have been incurred. However, it was decided to embark on an accelerated circulation of existing registration documents (V5s) and to replace these existing certificates in line with the annual registration/licensing process:
	to avoid the problem and confusion of multiple versions of certificates in circulation (there are already at least four formats currently valid for the UK);
	to isolate motorists who have not kept their registration current with DVLA through licensing (including SORN), hence bearing down on those who are not complying with the law.
	This was an important adjunct to the Continuous Registration process and is intended to help in reducing the number of vehicles without current registration, according to DVLA's Secretary of State performance target.
	The current forecast for the total costs associated with this accelerated process, which has six months yet to run to completion are 9.3 million.

Working Time Regulations

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials working in ministerial private offices in the Department have worked more than a 48-hour week at any time in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of those had signed a waiver under working time regulations; and what percentage these figures represented of the total in each case.

Charlotte Atkins: The working time regulations provide workers with the protection of a limit of an average of 48 hours a week working time. This is not an absolute cap of 48 hours in any one week. This average is normally calculated over a 17-week reference period, although this can be longer in certain situations (26 weeks) and can be extended by agreement (up to 52 weeks). Workers may choose to work more than 48 hours per week over this reference period by signing an opt-out agreement, but employers cannot force a worker to sign an opt-out and workers cannot be subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out.
	In the past year, a total of 26 individuals working in ministerial private offices have worked more than 48 hours in at least one week. This total reflects a number of staff changes during the course of the year. There are currently 11 staff working in ministerial private offices who have signed an opt-out. Given the changes of staff during the year, it is not meaningful to calculate this as a percentage of the total of 26.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the level of protection afforded to circus animals in the Animal Welfare Bill;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with circuses over the welfare of their animals;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the future of animals in circuses in the light of regulations to be introduced under the Animal Welfare Bill.

Ben Bradshaw: Our proposals under the Animal Welfare Bill will improve significantly the welfare of all animals used in entertainment, including animals performing in circuses. The introduction of the welfare offence means that the owner or keeper of an animal is required to take reasonable steps to ensure its welfare. This will enable the courts to take action where an animal although not currently suffering is being kept in a way that will cause eventual suffering.
	The contents of the Bill have been subject to public consultation and pre- legislative scrutiny. This has enabled a wide range of animal keepers, including the keepers of circus animals, to make their views known.
	It is our intention, through regulations under the Bill, to license all performing animal trainers. We propose that inspectors will be given the right of entry to all premises where performing animals are kept or are performing, including winter holding quarters. The regulations would be backed up by a code of practice which would set out welfare standards. The regulations and code would be subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

Bass

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the (a) value and (b) potential value of sea angling for bass in UK inshore waters on a recreational and commercial hook and line fishing basis only.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 29 November 2004
	The value of commercial landings of bass by line gear used by the UK fleet was approximately 354,000 in 2003. The proportion of this figure relating to landings in inshore waters is not available. Although a report by Drew Associates, commissioned by Defra, and published in July 2004, provided information on the economic contribution of sea angling in England and Wales, this did not provide information relating solely to bass so recent data on the value of this activity is not available. However, as part of the process of taking forward the recommendations in net benefits report from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, we will be reviewing the evidence for re-designating commercially caught species for wholly recreational sea angling, beginning with bass.

Bass Trawler Fishing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact of bass trawler fishing on (a) dolphin welfare and (b) the size of the dolphin population.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra-funded research identified a dolphin bycatch problem in the pair trawl fishery for bass and trials, which concluded in spring 2004, demonstrated that mitigation devices were not sufficiently developed to reduce this bycatch in the short-term. This was why I approached the European Commission for an emergency closure of this fishery and, in the light of the Commission's rejection of the UK case, announced my intention to prohibit pelagic pair trawling for bass within 12 miles of the south west coast.
	When our request for an emergency closure was put to the Commission it was understood that the relevant population of common dolphins was approximately 120,000. More recent abundance estimates show however that the population is several times this figure. Although dolphin bycatch may not now be considered a significant threat to the conservation of the species, I intend to continue with bycatch reduction measures to comply with commitments to minimise bycatch and to reduce it to its lowest level.

Bee Disease

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of planned reductions in funding on the Bee Health Programme.

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Government have for funding the Honey Bee Health Programme; and what assessment she has made of the impact these plans would have on monitoring the infectious diseases of bees;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the help that is available to amateur beekeepers to control infectious diseases of bees.

Alun Michael: The Department recognises the importance of its bee health programme to the beekeeping sector in England. Through the National Bee Unit, we are providing a free diagnostic and inspection service to beekeepers for notifiable pests and diseases, as well as an extensive training and education programme to help them become more self-reliant through improved apiary management.
	It is intended that the proposed 20 per cent. cut in funding should be concentrated on the field force of the Bee Diseases Inspectorate. The capacity of the National Bee Unit to provide scientific services which are essential to the identification and control of bee diseases will be substantially maintained but we shall be asking beekeepers to take a greater measure of responsibility for dealing with varroasis and European foul brood, diseases for which effective means of control are in place or under development.
	We shall be working closely with beekeeping associations to manage these changes and the risks attached to them during the three years before they are fully implemented.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by how much carbon dioxide emissions have changed in each year of the operation of the climate change levy.

Elliot Morley: The Climate Change Levy started operating in 2001 and the table gives estimated total UK emissions of carbon dioxide emissions since 2000. The estimates are consistent with those published in the Consultation Paper for the Review of the UK Climate Change Programme.
	
		
			  Total UK CO 2  emissions (million tonnes/yr) 
		
		
			 2000 559.8 
			 2001 575.0 
			 2002 555.5 
			 2003 563.6 
		
	
	The data incorporate recent revisions to the carbon emission factors for coal used in power generation and for natural gas. The next inventory submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is due in April 2005, and will complete the incorporation of new data on carbon emission factors, and contain revised estimates carbon emissions from land-use change and forestry, as set out on the Consultation Paper.

China

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the recent discussions in China on matters within her responsibilities, attended by the Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment.

Elliot Morley: I led a British water industry mission to Beijing (2124 November), Wuhan (2425 November) and Guangzhou (2526 November). The principal objectives of my visit were to raise the profile in China of the UK water industry, to open doors for the business delegation and to demonstrate UK business commitment to the market.
	Nine companies were given opportunities to share their experience and expertise with their Chinese counterparts and relevant Government authorities. The visit encouraged greater future co-operation between the UK and China at municipal, provincial and central Government levels. I understand that as a result these companies have made a great number of useful contacts and positioned themselves to pursue particular business opportunities in China.
	I was also able to raise the profile of the UK-China Water and Wastewater which had its inaugural meeting during my visit. I understand that this was also successful and will lead to greater cooperation on policy and trade issues.
	I also held discussions with Ministers and officials in a number of key ministries on other Defra interests including sustainable development, climate change and illegal logging. There are benefits from closer cooperation with China in all these areas of policy. Finally, I took the opportunity to discuss the environment contribution to the UK's year of science in China which begins in January.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of postage was for official Departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Alun Michael: The postage costs for official cards for 2003 was 264 and in respect of 2004 is anticipated to be 296.
	This was calculated by multiplying second class postage against the volume of cards sent.

Christmas Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of purchasing official departmental Christmas cards in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Alun Michael: Costs for Defra Official Season's Greetings cards are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 2003 7,295 
			 2004 2,659 
		
	
	These figures include costs for artwork, purchase of photographs, printing and envelopes.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will include in forthcoming environmental legislation, with particular reference to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, measures to deal with the proliferation of signage in rural areas.

Alun Michael: Measures are already in place to prevent the proliferation of signage in both rural and urban areas. The relevant regulations are the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 1992. It is an offence for any person to display an advertisement in contravention of these regulations and local authorities have powers of enforcement. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill contains provisions to improve these existing controls and new Regulations and guidance will be issued next year.
	Signs that comply with the statutory requirements for traffic signs (as specified in section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984) are exempt from the Town and Country Planning controls. However, they must comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (SI 3113) or be specially authorised by the Secretary of State (or Scottish Ministers or Welsh Assembly Government in Scotland and Wales). Department for Transport's guidance also advises on the avoidance of sign proliferation.

Climate Change Conference

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Tenth Conference of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, held in Buenos Aires from 617 December; and what progress was made in persuading the United States Administration to commit to post-Kyoto 2012 actions to mitigate climate change.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 December 2004
	We and our EU partners had two key objectives for the negotiations in Buenos Aires and both were successfully achieved. The Conference agreed to develop a work plan to address the adaptation needs of the developing countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. And the Conference, including the United States, also took the first step towards tackling the huge challenge of climate change beyond the 1st Kyoto Protocol commitment period, by deciding to hold an informal seminar next year which will discuss how we can continue to develop effective and appropriate responses to climate change.

Coastal and Flood Defence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will separate the budgets for coastal defence works from that for flood defence works.

Elliot Morley: The budgets are currently managed jointly as coastal processes affecting flood and erosion risks are hard to separate and such risks need to be managed together in many cases. We also see significant difficulties in separating budgets for river and sea flooding as all flood risks, including those arising in estuaries, need to be managed holistically and prioritised jointly. The Environment Agency, working though regional flood defence committees, leads in all flood risk management issues.
	We have, however, recently consulted on a new Government strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, as part of which we are considering the future arrangements in coastal areas. We aim to publish a first response to this in spring 2005.

Coastal and Flood Defence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much will be allocated to the maritime authorities for costal defence projects in 200506.

Elliot Morley: The total allocation for grant and Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) for local authorities for 200506 is 47 million. This will be spent on both inland and coastal improvement projects to reduce risk but by far the greater part will be invested by maritime councils on coastal projects.

Coastal and Flood Defence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost of beach nourishment on the Eccles on Sea to Winterton section of the Norfolk coast is for the years 2004 to 2014.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the principal authority responsible for flood risk in England. The Eccles to Winterton coastline is the subject of regular monitoring by the Agency and I understand that a review of the sea defence strategy for this frontage is nearing completion. It is currently anticipated that expenditure in the order of 11.4 million will be required for beach nourishment and associated works over the five year period 200506 to 200910 inclusive.
	Predictions beyond this period are less certain but, for budgeting purposes, the Environment Agency is assuming a further 11 million for the succeeding five years to 201415.
	Implementation of these works will be dependent upon their satisfying the Government's criteria for public funding.

Consultation on the Environment

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the names of attendees present at the consultation on the environment on 8 December; and in what capacity each attended;
	(2)  what conclusions were reached following the consultation on the environment on 8 December; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra hosted a number of events on 8 December, in connection with the publication of Delivering the Essentials of Life, Defra's Five Year Strategy, and the launch of the consultation on the UK Climate Change Review. These events involved a number of stakeholders. Further events involving stakeholders will take place during the course of the consultation on the UK Climate Change Review.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 16 November, ref: 207829.

Alun Michael: I responded to the hon. Member on 21 December.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to date has been of implementing the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Alun Michael: Defra is funding the Countryside Agency, National Park Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate for the part each is playing in implementing Part I of the Act throughout the whole of England by the end of 2005. . The Countryside Agency has so far spent 37.59 million, consisting of 0.75 million in 19992000; 0.92 million in 200001; 5.17 million in 200102; 8.30 million in 200203; 13.25 million in 200304 and 9.2 million to date in 200405. The Agency expects to spend a further 5.8 million in the current financial year. National Park Authorities have been allocated an additional 4.725 million, consisting of 0.875 million in 200203; 2.0 million in 200304 and 1.85 million in 200405. We have also funded the Planning Inspectorate to deal with appeals against the inclusion of land on provisional maps and restriction appeals of 0.11 million in 200102; 0.84 million in 200203 and 1.20 million in 200304. The Planning Inspectorate expect to spend no more than 2 million in the current financial year. Local authorities have been funded to establish local access forums under Part V of the Act.
	Further, the Government have announced funding of 2 million for 200405 towards an access management grant scheme to support local authorities in implementing the new right of access.

Decontamination and Radiation Service

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce a decontamination and radiation service.

Elliot Morley: As I announced on 25 March 2004, the Government are actively considering setting up a decontamination and recovery service. A further announcement will be made as soon as is appropriate.
	To date the priority has been to build on the wide range of experience and expertise which is already available in the UK, rather than to focus on the administrative task of setting up a new organisation. This has included assessment of and engagement with the existing capability and the identification of appropriate technologies.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by her Department.

Alun Michael: There are two forms of credit card held by the Department. One is the Government Procurement Card which is a Visa purchasing card that operates in the same manner as a normal charge card. It is designed to streamline the purchase and payment processes associated with the purchasing of low value goods and services. The other is the Barclaycard Visa Corporate Card which is a Visa charge card. It has a monthly expenditure limit and an individual transaction limit. It is designed to support Defra staff by providing the vehicle for payment for business expenditure associated with their duties. The number of cards held for official business by Defra is as follows:
	171 Government Procurement Cards
	255 Corporate Credit Cards.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Alun Michael: Defra currently holds 197 properties which have a total floor area of 336,763 square metres.
	Seven of these properties are currently vacant, which have a floor area of 61,351 square metres. They comprise four former emergency food stores, one ex-laboratory site formally occupied by a Defra agency, a former HRI International site and a London site currently being refurbished.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Alun Michael: The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act. Defra has not introduced any new policies on the storage of documents or the use of shredders in the past 12 months.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Alun Michael: E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Defra's guidance on e-mail management emphasises the importance of capturing all significant e-mail messagesthis policy has not changed in the past year. Further email guidance is available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf

Emissions Trading

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the British ceramics industry on exemption from phase one of the EU emissions trading scheme.

Elliot Morley: The Government intend to make an application to the European Commission early in the new year for the temporary exclusion from the first phase of the EU emissions trading scheme of some installations that are parties to Climate Change Agreements. Operators of installations will be given the opportunity to decide whether they wish to be part of the application once they have been told of their allocation under the scheme. Officials have had regular discussions with representatives of industry, including the ceramics industry, about the Government's plans for an application for temporary exclusion.

Emissions Trading

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the European Commission on the UK's application for exemption from phase one of the EU emissions trading scheme.

Elliot Morley: The Government made an application to the European Commission earlier this year to temporarily exclude direct participants' installations that are included in the UK emissions trading scheme from the EU emissions trading scheme. This application has now been approved by the Commission. The Government intend to make a further application to the European Commission early in the new year for the temporary exclusion from the first phase of the EU scheme of some installations that are parties to Climate Change Agreements.

Emissions Trading

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she plans to take to ensure the opt-out from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for British companies applying to the climate change agreements are successful; and what measures she plans to take to ensure that British companies are not exposed to double regulation of (a) the UK climate change agreement and (b) the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in the event that the opt-out application fails.

Elliot Morley: The Government successfully negotiated an opt out provision in the Emissions Trading Directive. The Government intend to make an application, under this provision, to the European Commission early in the new year for the temporary exclusion from the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme of some installations that are parties to Climate Change Agreements. The application will set out the Government's case that CCAs, with minor modifications, meet the criteria for equivalence set out in the Directive. We have discussed an outline application with the Commission.
	CCAs cover a wider range of emissions than does EU ETS, in particular indirect emissions through electricity use. Continued operation of the CCAs will therefore maintain the incentives to reduce these emissions, and continue to provide access to the reduced rate of Climate Change Levy for all energy use covered by the Agreements. The basic data required to report under both schemes is the same. The Government intend to consider the future policy mix of measures impacting on business as part of the review of the Climate Change Programme.

Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her public engagements since 15 May.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1517W.

Environmental Action Fund

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the application from the Exhibition and Branding Parks County Trust was not considered for the Environmental Action Fund; and when a new application can be made.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 December 2004
	An application was made to the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) by the Exhibition and Brandling Parks Community Trust for funding of a project under the new round of EAF grants from 2005 to 2008. The application was not accepted because it did not meet the conditions of the grant competition relating to the deadline for submission and to the completion of information. We have made no decisions about the scope and timing of future grant rounds, but do not currently have plans to launch another competition before 2007.

Environmental Services Association

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of the Environmental Services Association.

Elliot Morley: I met representatives of the Environmental Services Association on 2 February and on 20 May this year. Further meetings are tabled for 9 February and June 2005.

Erosion

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what percentage of the budget for 200506 for flood and coastal erosion will be spent on beach re-charge.

Elliot Morley: Total Central Government funding for management of flood and coastal erosion risk in 200506 will be 570 million. The flood and coastal defence operating authorities (Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards) will use most of this for operation and maintenance of existing risk management infrastructure and improvement projects. For coastal flood and erosion risk control the management of beaches through recharge and recycling of sand and shingle can be a very effective response. However, no sum is specifically set aside for beach re-charge projects though such work is likely to feature in a number of projects.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which her Department's policies meet the needs of ethnic minorities.

Alun Michael: The Department's assessment of the impact of it's policies and services, including how these meet the needs of minority ethnic communities is set out in the Race Equality Scheme. This was published in July 2003, following a public consultation exercise. A copy of Defra's Race Equality Scheme will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The Department is currently reviewing the Scheme, and Race Equality Impact Assessments will be undertaken as part of the review which will be reassessing policies to ensure they meet the needs of all our stakeholders. The Department is already taking part in a number of initiatives aimed at improving service to ethnic minority communities such as participating in Inter-Departmental Groups. Defra has a dedicated team within its Diversity Equality Unit that deal with all equality issues as they pertain to the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, employment and training. The Diversity and Equality Unit work closely with Defra's Ethnic Minority staff network group consulting them on a regular basis. A Race Relations one day training event will be provided to all Defra's Directors in February 2005.
	In addition the Department is taking action to address issues relating to the recruitment, retention and progression of ethnic minority staff.

Farm Grants (Pendle)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the principal grants available to farmers in Pendle; how many farmers were in receipt of such grants on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average amount claimed in each category of grant was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Please see the following table detailing the payments to farmers in Pendle by scheme for the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Accounting period 16 October 2003 to 15 October 2004. This details, for each scheme, the number of claimants, the total value of payments and the average value of payment.
	
		Pendle constituency payments for EAGGF 2004: 16 October 2003 to 15 October 2004Payment to vendors within Pendle constituency postcode listing
		
			  Claimants Payment () Average payment () 
		
		
			 Direct aid:
			 Arable Area Payments 1 2,451.26 2,451.26 
			 Beef Special Premium 60 141,204.56 2,353.41 
			 Extensification Premium 55 112,382.59 2,043.32 
			 Sheep Annual Premium 119 419,663.25 3,526.58 
			 Slaughter Premium 107 112,435.06 1,050.79 
			 Suckler Cow Premium 49 203,640.13 4,155.92 
			 ERDP:
			 Countryside Stewardship 21 78,009.24 3,714.73 
			 Farm Woodland Premium 8 4,071.80 508.98 
			 Hill Farming Allowance 107 262,065.03 2,449.21 
			 Organic Farming 1 1,338.01 1,338.01 
			 Rural Enterprise 3 46,614.36 15,538.12

Fisheries

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring she is undertaking in the offshore pair trawl fishery for sea bass.

Ben Bradshaw: Under contract to Defra, the Sea Mammal Research Unit has placed observers on board UK vessels in the offshore pair trawl fishery. Results for this season's fishery which began in November are not yet available.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of proposals to change the (a) number, (b) operational framework, (c) basis of accountability, (d) funding regime and (e) legislative framework of Sea Fisheries Committees following her Department's receipt of the Bradley Report.

Ben Bradshaw: There were around 130 responses to consultation on the Bradley report, which closed at the beginning of October. A significant number of respondents argued that the Bradley recommendations should be taken forward alongside those made by the Strategy Unit in its report 'Net Benefits', which also made recommendations on the management of inshore fisheries. Many also emphasised the importance they placed on local and stakeholder input.
	I agree with both these points, and have recently written to the Chairmen of Sea Fisheries Committees to advise them that I do not propose to make decisions about inshore management structures while a working group on which they are represented is considering the relevant Strategy Unit recommendations. Copies of the letters have been placed in the House Library.
	One substantial issue raised by Bradley that was not covered by the Strategy Unit is the status and management of the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate, where I propose to move the SFI executive agency status next year.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated discards were in UK waters, in the last three years for which statistics are available, broken down by category of fish.

Ben Bradshaw: UK fisheries laboratories send observers to sea to record the quantity of fish discarded and retained by fishing vessels. The following tables show estimates for the proportion of catch discarded of cod, haddock, and whiting by the Scottish fleet and a representative sample of the English fleet in the North Sea. These estimates are obtained by raising the observer data to the total number of recorded days-at-sea. The estimates update information given in response to a previous question from the hon. Member on 2 April 2003, Official Report, column 763W. The English figures for 2001 and 2002 have been adjusted from those given in the previous reply.
	
		Percentage of catch discarded (by weight)
		
			 Species 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England
			 Cod 13 22 12 
			 Haddock 39 9 19 
			 Whiting 63 40 64 
			 
			 Scotland
			 Cod 23 9 12 
			 Haddock 75 46 37 
			 Whiting 46 52 51

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Total Allowable Catch permitted for waters within the United Kingdom's 200 mile or median line limit, broken down by fish type is; what the Total Allowable Catch is for UK vessels as a proportion of each; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There are over 200 fish stocks for which the EC Fisheries Council sets total allowable catches (TACs). Only one of those stocks, Clyde herring, is a stock that is exclusively within the United Kingdom's fisheries limits. The UK receives all of the total allowable catch set for this stock.
	The other stocks that include waters within the United Kingdom's fisheries limits also include parts of other sea areas as well. For these stocks, no separate part of the Total Allowable Catch is related exclusively to the UK waters involved, and as such the question as asked cannot be answered.

Flooding

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been spent on flood protection measures within the Greater London area in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. My Department funds most of the Environment Agency's activities in this area and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities primarily) to support their investment in improvement works.
	The Environment Agency is the principal authority responsible for management of flood risk. Its expenditure profile for London for operational, maintenance and capital works during the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 19992000 45 
			 200001 42 
			 200102 36 
			 200203 35 
			 200304 39 
		
	
	Defra has not provided grant aid for improvement projects to local authorities in Greater London in the last five years although they may have received some support for their own spend on flood risk management through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's local government finance mechanism.

Flooding

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has commissioned on the incidence of flooding in Oxford; what the terms of reference were; and what the expected date for the (a) report and (b) publication is.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. The Department funds most of the Environment Agency's activities in this area and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement works.
	The Environment Agency is the principal authority responsible for management of flood risk. I understand the Agency commissioned the 'Oxford Strategy Study' in February 2002. This reported in April 2004.
	An important part of the 'terms of reference' identified that the Study should establish the best course of action to reduce the risk of flooding within the Oxford flood plain.
	The six potential solutions identified by the Study are now being developed within the Agency's Oxford Scheme Feasibility Stage 1. This was commissioned in November 2004 and aims to be complete by March 2006. It will enable the Agency to establish and take forward the scheme which is most viable environmentally, economically and technically.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in England have been subject to decontamination activity by her Department this year as a result of inappropriate burial of material associated with the 2001 foot and mouth epidemic; what the cost of such activity has been; and how many more farms she expects will be subject to similar activity.

Ben Bradshaw: Two farms in England, both in Worcestershire, have been subject to the removal of agricultural waste or pyre ash this year as a result of FMD activities in 2001.
	The Department has removed buried agricultural waste from one farm, and buried and unburied pyre ash plus a small quantity of scrap metal from another. Agricultural waste, which could not be adequately disinfected, was burned and/or buried on the affected premises during the 2001 FMD outbreak to prevent the risk of disease spread.
	The total estimated costs of these operations in England are 355,000.
	One additional farm in England is known to require similar activity. Further sites may be identified as a result of risk assessments and the precautionary monitoring programme.

Hydrometeorological Disaster

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has carried out into hydrometeorological disaster.

Elliot Morley: Defra Flood management currently has a research project on Extreme Event Recognition as part of its joint funded programme with the Environment Agency. The purpose of the project is to improve advance identification of meteorological conditions with the potential to cause extreme flood conditions. An initial phase of the project was undertaken by Salford University in 200102 and carried out some initial analysis of historical events and defined the potential for areas of further research. A summary of the project is also available at http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?DocumentID=1849
	Phase 2 of the research, a three-year programme from 2004 to 2006, is being carried out by a consortium involving the Met Office, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Salford university. The outcome of the work will feed into operational flood forecasting by the Environment Agency and other severe weather forecasting services provided by the Met Office.
	Other research into wider meteorological conditions that may cause disasters is undertaken directly by the Met Office who are a Trading Fund of the Ministry of Defence.

IT (Disciplinary Procedures)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The Department does not maintain a central list of breaches of IT policy as these are generally handled through the line management chain. Therefore, there is no central record of warnings issued in cases where IT policy has been breached. Since Defra came into existence on 9 June 2001 six members of staff have faced disciplinary procedures for breaches of this policy.
	The Department seeks to ensure that all users of computer systems are fully aware of their responsibilities and legal obligations. This is done by a variety of methods such as through system training programmes, published user guides and usage policies together with general security policy guidance and advice. This material is subject to regular review and is easily accessible through the Departmental Intranet. Regular Office Notices also provide reminders of key points.

Landfill

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairshow many tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste were diverted from landfill in (a) 200102 and (b) 200203.

Elliot Morley: The estimated quantities of biodegradable municipal waste diverted from landfill in England are as follows:
	
		
			  Million tonne 
		
		
			 200102 4.01 
			 200203 4.56

Landfill

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the total tonnage of biodegradable municipal waste that will need to be diverted in (a) 2010, (b) 2013 and (c) 2020 to comply with Article 5 of the Landfill Regulations.

Elliot Morley: The UK targets for the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that can be landfilled in the three target years, as set out in the Landfill (Scheme Year and Maximum Landfill Amount) Regulations 2004, are:
	
		
			  Million tonne 
		
		
			 200910 13.7 
			 201213 9.13 
			 201920 6.39 
		
	
	Therefore, the total cumulative reductions in the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill for the UK, from 200506, to meet each of the targets, are approximately:
	
		
			  Million tonne 
		
		
			 July 2010 5 
			 July 2013 9.5 
			 July 2020 11.5

Marine Conservation (North Sea)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the establishment of marine conservation zones in the North Sea.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are committed to establishing an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas throughout UK waters, including the North Sea.
	We are close to completing the UK's contribution to the Natura 2000 network under the Habitats and Birds Directives within Territorial Waters and are preparing regulations to extend the Habitats and Birds Directives to the offshore marine area.

Office of Water Services

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the salary of the (a) chair, (b) chief executive and (c) board members of the Office of Water Services is; and how many days' work per week each is expected to undertake.

Elliot Morley: The Office of Water Services does not have a chair, chief executive or statutory board. The Director General of Water Services is the statutory regulator. He is employed on a full time basis and assisted by a committee of full time senior managers and a non-statutory board, which includes four non-executive advisory directors who work two days a month. The Director General's salary in 200304 was in the pay band 140145,000. Salaries and benefits of other senior members of Ofwat are published in the Ofwat Resource Accounts 200304 (note 3 of the accounts) which is available in the Library of the House.

Ofwat Review (Water and Sewerage)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when it was decided to announce an inquiry into Ofwat's performance on its recommendations on price limits for water and sewerage for England and Wales; and if she will list representations she received on the matter;
	(2)  what criteria were used in the selection process of John Baker as the Chairman of the Ofwat review on its recommendations on price limits for water sewerage.

Elliot Morley: There will be no inquiry into Ofwat's conduct of the price review.
	However, Ofwat indicated to the EFRA committee in October its intention to review the way in which it carried out its two-year review of price limits for the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. The steering group conducting this review will be chaired by John Baker, a non-executive advisory director of Ofwat. The Director General of Water Services appointed the Chairman of this inquiry.
	I have received no representations about Ofwat's review.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Alun Michael: As at 1 January 2005 there were 23 press officers in Defra's communications directorate. This number includes the posts of head of news and press secretary to the Secretary of State.

Road Transport (Emissions)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the (a) reasons for and (b) consequences of rising emissions of (i) nitrogen dioxide and (ii) ammonia from the road transport sector between 1990 and 2002.

Elliot Morley: Most emissions of nitrogen oxides (nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide) at the point of release are nitric oxide. Under normal circumstances the emitted nitrogen monoxide rapidly reacts to form nitrogen dioxide. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) does not report separately emissions of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide.
	Emissions of nitrogen oxides from road transport decreased by 45 per cent. between 1990 and 2002 from 1,295 to 711 kte. This is mainly as a result of the increase in the proportion of the vehicle fleet fitted with catalysts and improvements in the emissions of nitrogen oxides from diesel fuelled vehicles.
	The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) reported in 2004 that there may have been an increase in the proportion of nitrogen dioxide emitted directly from the tailpipe of diesel vehicles as a result of increased diesel activity and the fitting of specific types of particle matter traps. AQEG's report can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/ageg/nitrogen- dioxide/index.htm.
	Emissions of ammonia from road transport were only 4.2 per cent. of the national ammonia emission total in 2002. They had increased between 1990 and 2002 from 0.85 to 11.97 kte. The increase in ammonia releases from road transport is related to the growth in the number of vehicles fitted with three- way catalysts. These produce ammonia and nitrous oxide as a by-product of the catalytic process that reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides. Improvements in catalyst technology and engine management systems has reduced ammonia emissions in recent years. The NAEI reports ammonia emissions from road transport peaked in 2000 and are now starting to fall as these new vehicles penetrate the fleet. The NAEI can be viewed at http://www.naei.org.uk.
	Reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides from road transport reduces the ambient levels of nitrogen dioxide. This decreases the areas where air quality objectives are exceeded and reduces the detrimental health effects associated with high ambient levels of nitrogen dioxide. Increased primary emissions of nitrogen dioxide may have a significant impact on roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations in areas where there is considerable diesel activity.
	The consequences of the rise in emissions of ammonia from road transport are thought to be relatively slight. While there may, on occasion, be a detectable odour from some catalyst equipped cars. Emission of ammonia from road transport tend to occur mostly in urban locations, whereas the main ecological effects of ammonia occur to rural ecosystems.

Senior Women

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many women there are in senior positions in her Department.

Alun Michael: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the Civil Service by Department. These include data on the number of women in senior positions in Departments.
	The latest available information at April 2004 is available in the Library and on the Civil Service website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/disability_apr04_4nov04.xls
	This shows that 40 women (25.1 per cent.) within the core Department were at Senior Civil Service level.
	The website also holds historic data on this subject.

Sickness Absence

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

Alun Michael: Defra did not come into existence until June 2001. The following table shows the total number of days sickness absence taken each year since 1997 in the first column, the second column shows the average rate of sickness absence (per staff year 1 ) for each full year.
	
		
			  Total sickness absence (days) Average days sick per staff year 
		
		
			 2003 60,465 8.3 
			 2002 89,784 8.7 
		
	
	Defra is committed to managing sickness absence effectively. On 1 December the Department introduced a new sickness absence policy, which includes many of the recommendations contained in the report on Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector produced jointly by the Ministerial Task Force for Health Safety and Productivity and the Cabinet Office.
	Examples
	the introduction of welcome back discussions (return to work interviews) with line managers on each occasion of sickness absence;
	the use of prompt points for the management of cases based on the number of days accrued.
	Defra is also actively supporting the work of the task force by undertaking a trial of one of the seven approaches highlighted in the report to help address short term absence.
	1 Per staff year means individuals working part-time would be added to achieve the equivalent of a full-time worker.

Single Farm Payments

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has offered to farmers in respect of the operation of the single farm payment for those whose farms include (a) access to common land, (b) land which has been part of an agri-environmental scheme during the reference period, (c) land which during the reference period was in a different single farm payment regime than applied during the application period and (d) land which has been subject to a tenancy agreement for a period less than six years in length.

Alun Michael: Our aim is to ensure that all farmers are as well informed as possible about implementation of the Single Payment Scheme in England. Regular meetings have been held to consult farmers and their representatives in advance of our decisions on implementation. Once those decisions are made, they are communicated through News Releases, updates on the Department's website and, at regular intervals, consolidated in publications sent to all farmers in England. So far, these have included:
	a letter sent in May, outlining the basic principles of the scheme;
	a brochure with details of an announcement made in July;
	a brochure with further details of announcements made in November;
	The Cross Compliance Handbook for England (2005 Edition).
	Further such communications are planned over the coming weeks. In addition, farmers can pose questions to the Defra helpline at any time.
	On the issues specifically mentioned:
	(a) Policy relating to this very complex area has only just been announced and we are in the process of adding to the content of the website.
	(b) Advice on what to do in circumstances where land was in an agri-environment scheme during the reference period was sent to all existing subsidy claimants by the RPA in July and August as part of the application pack for the hardship provisions of the scheme. Further information on the precise effect on the reference amount for individuals has just been announced.
	(c) Those who have ceased farming in a region where they have a right to a reference amount will not lose that benefit. We are currently discussing details with the Devolved Administrations of how a transfer will work and those details will be announced shortly.
	(d) Those with tenancy agreements of less than six years can access the scheme in the same way as any other applicant. However there are three National Reserve categories where there is a requirement that leases must be of six or more years duration. We have announced that leases under the Agricultural Holdings 1986 Act will qualify even if their initial term is for less than six years.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether departmental special advisers have made appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity since May 1997.

Alun Michael: No.

Special Advisers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many special advisers there are in the Department, broken down by civil service pay grade.

Alun Michael: Details on the names and number of special advisers by pay band by department are published on annual basis. For information for the financial year 200304, I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 466W.
	Information for 200405 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 her special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Alun Michael: All travel by the special advisers has been undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code. During this period the special advisers have visited, in an official capacity, the following places/countries at a cost of:
	
		
			
		
		
			 1015 April 2002 USA and Canada 6,062.30 
			 38 June 2002 Indonesia 5,142.40 
			 2425 June 2002 Luxembourg 875.00 
			 27 June 2002 Luxembourg 659.00 
			 15 July 2002 Belgium 452.70 
			 26 August-4 September 2002 South Africa 3,272.00 
			 12 September 2002 Belgium 480.00 
			 1617 October 2002 Luxembourg 578.00 
			 2122 October 2002 France 450.00 
			 26 October-2 November 2002 India 3,438.20 
			 910 December 2002 Belgium 542.50 
			 24 February 2003 USA 4,202.86 
			  Total 26,154.96

State Veterinary Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the review of the State Veterinary Service; when it will end; if she will publish all the evidence collated; and what format the review is taking.

Ben Bradshaw: The review into the State Veterinary Service (SVS) was carried out at the end of 2003 and a full report produced earlier in 2004. The report was issued for public consultation in July. It recommended that SVS should become an Executive Agency on 1 April 2005 and that, subsequently, a number of smaller, related Inspectorates might be brought into the new Agency.
	On 29 November I announced a decision to proceed with the plan to launch the new Agency subject to Ministers' agreement to the final proposals, which are being put together now. A Chief Executive (Designate) has been appointed and is in post.
	Full details of the review, the consultation and the responses received are available on the Defra web site.

Stolen Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants from her Department have (a) faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft, (b) been charged with theft and (c) been dismissed following theft allegations in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: As Defra did not come into existence until June 2001, I am only able to provide information from that date. The information relates to a total staff of nearly 7,000 and is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff who faced disciplinary proceedings as a result of allegations of theft Number of staff charged with theft Number of staff dismissed following theft allegations 
		
		
			 2001 0 0 0 
			 2002 24 4 1 
			 2003 0 0 3 
			 2004 1 1 1 
		
	
	Note:
	The dismissals in 2003 relate to cases started in 2002.

Tenancy Reform

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her proposals for tenancy reform for agricultural holdings following the recent statement by the Parliamentary Under Secretary at Smithfield Show on the future of its Tenancy Reform Referendum Group.

Alun Michael: The Government are taking forward all of the recommendations of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group for amendment to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995. A consultation document on a draft Regulatory Reform Order on tenancy reform was issued at the end of September, which, if adopted, would implement the legislative changes recommended by the Group.
	In co-operation with the Tenancy Reform Industry Group, the Government have also published a Code of Good Practice on agri-environment schemes and diversification within agricultural tenancies. The aim of the Code is to increase tenant farmer participation in agri-environment schemes and diversified activities by providing a framework for landlords and tenants to follow when considering these projects. Government are providing funding of 60,000 per year over four years for an adjudication scheme to back up the Code of Practice, where landlords and tenants are unable to reach agreement.
	The Government have welcomed the valuable role the Tenancy Reform Industry Group has played in advising Government on tenancy issues. We intend to continue to use the experience and knowledge of the Group to steer through our programme of tenancy reform. The Group will also play a role in monitoring the effectiveness of the Code of Good Practice and the impact of the Single Payment on landlord/tenant relationships. There are no plans to disband the Group at present.

Turkey Manure

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the spread of odour from turkey manure.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to my earlier replies to her of 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 111415W.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current budget is for the Waste Implementation Programme; how many people are employed by the Programme; and if she will list the achievements of the qualitative and quantative Programme.

Elliot Morley: Budget 2003 announced that, as part of the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, approximately 84/92/92 million had been allocated to the new Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) in England for the financial years 200304, 200405 and 200506. Currently, 80 people are employed by WIP, of which 55 work for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which is a key delivery agent for significant elements of the programme.
	WIP has been very successful in prioritising close engagement with local authorities and the waste industry to create a stronger understanding of the opportunities and challenges that sustainable waste management presents, and to stimulate the development of essential expertise. Data from the latest Municipal Waste Management Survey show 14.5 per cent. of household waste was collected for recycling in 200203, up from 12.5 per cent. in 200102. Taking account of the growing contribution that WIP is making to improved performance by local authorities in meeting their statutory waste targets, the Government believes that the national 200304 target of 17 per cent. recycling or composting will now be met.
	Specific achievements of the WIP programme include:
	the allocation of over 100 million in challenge funding to local authorities, paving the way for new investment in recycling infrastructure, and approval of a number of major waste PFI projects capable of exceeding EU Landfill Directive targets;
	the launch of a new 4 million programme of support for the voluntary and community waste sector, including help for the sector to develop meaningful partnerships with local government;
	the successful launch of a pilot scheme for new sustainable waste management technologies for dealing with those wastes which are not readily reduced, reused or recycled (with industry partners to take forward the development of the first phase of pilot plants now clearly identified);
	the award of 1.36 million worth of funding for research focused on new ways to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill under a Technologies Research and Innovation Fund, which is part of WIP's New Technologies programme;
	publication of a new strategy for waste-related research, and the launch of a separate consultation on a 3-year strategy for better data on waste, to plug knowledge gaps across all waste streams;
	provision of extra funding to local authorities for specialist consultancy supportworth approximately 3 millionto help in tackling specific local barriers to improved recycling performance. Nearly 300 authorities will receive support under this scheme;
	the launch of a new national recycling campaign, aimed at raising public awareness about recycling and pushing England's recycling rate to a higher level. WIP is also supporting over 100 local authority campaigns being delivered this year and in 2005, which are focused directly on increasing participation in local recycling facilities;
	ongoing delivery of a comprehensive and responsive programme of centrally co-ordinated support to local authorities that helps them to deliver their targets and other sustainable waste management objectives, including the launch of web-based advice and best practice guidance. Action at a local level is also being delivered through WRAP'S Recycling and Organics Technical Advisory Team, which provides a free advisory service to support English local authorities in the implementation and improvement of kerbside collection systems;
	delivery of a targeted home composting programme with selected local authority partners;
	the launch of a Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund, aimed at providing support for retailer-led innovation projects. The fund will provide resources (research, pilot programmes, professional services) for projects leading to a reduction in household food and packaging waste originating from the retail sector; and,
	providing increased support for local authorities to deliver around 300 million worth of efficiency gains on waste services mainly by more effective joint working, promoting best practice, and standardisation of procurement operations.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of commercial and industrial waste were produced in (a) 19992000, (b) 200001, (c) 200102 and (d) 200203; and how much of this was recycled.

Elliot Morley: The last survey of industrial and commercial waste was 199899 so no data are available for years requested. The Environment Agency have undertaken another and results for 200203 will be available early in 2005.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of agricultural waste were produced in each of (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003.

Elliot Morley: On 9 December I announced that the Government had published for consultation the draft Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, Official Report, column 106WS. One of the main purposes of the draft regulations is to repeal the current exclusion in section 75(7)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and to apply to agricultural waste the national controls that are already in place to comply with the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. The consultation paper is available in the Library of the House and on my Department's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/agwaste-regs/index.htm.
	Because agricultural waste is currently excluded from waste management controls the data requested are not available. However, the consultation paper includes a Regulatory Impact Assessment which estimates agricultural waste arisings in England and Wales to be about 355,304 tonnes per annum; and provides the source of that estimate.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of construction and demolition waste were produced in (a) 19992000, (b) 200001, (c) 200102 and (d) 200203; and how much of this was recycled.

Elliot Morley: Information on construction and demolition waste is collected in an ODPM survey and published on the website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/grouDS/odpm planning/documents/page/odpm plan 032244.pdf
	The following table summarises results for the years in which the survey was conducted:
	
		Estimates of use/disposal of construction, demolition and excavation waste in England, 19992003 (million tonnes)
		
			  1999 2001 2003 
		
		
			 Recycled through crushers/screens 24.4 43.3 44.4 
			 Landfill 25.8 23.2 29.1 
			 Spread on exempt sites 19.0 22.4 16.4 
			 Total 69.2 88.9 90.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Table 5.2 Survey of arisings and Use of Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste as Aggregate in England in 2003, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the household waste stream was hazardous in the last period for which figures are available; and how much of it was sent to landfill.

Elliot Morley: The household hazardous waste forum has estimated that hazardous waste comprises some 1 per cent. of the household waste stream. The most recent municipal waste management survey, which is available on the Defra website, records that 75 per cent. of municipal waste was sent to landfill in 200203 in England.

Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of extending producer responsibility to waste streams not currently covered by producer responsibility legislation.

Elliot Morley: Negotiations are underway with the Periodical Publishers Association for a voluntary producer responsibility (PR) agreement to increase the recycling of post-consumer magazines. This agreement will be similar to the voluntary agreements that the Department has already signed with the Newspaper Publishers Association and the Direct Marketing Association.
	We also have it in mind to develop a producer responsibility agreement to increase the collection and recycling of non-packaging farm plastics once the current consultation is completed on the draft Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 Official Report, column 106WS. The consultation paper is available in the Library of the House and on my Department's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/aqwaste-regs/index.htm.
	Chapter 8 of the consultation paper discusses the introduction of a voluntary or statutory producer responsibly scheme for the collection and recovery of non-packaging plastic waste from farms. Views are invited by 18 March 2005. Plastic packaging waste from farms and elsewhere is already the subject of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulatons 1997 (as amended).

Waste

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what thresholds she has set for determining the amounts of different types of hazardous waste which may be present in the municipal waste stream while still allowing it to be classified as non-hazardous municipal waste.

Elliot Morley: Mixed municipal waste is classified on the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) under the code 20 03 01. This is a non-hazardous entry, and the use of thresholds does not apply. However, if the components of municipal waste are separately collected, some of these separately collected fractions will be classed as hazardous waste under chapter 20 01 of the EWC, and will be marked with an asterisk to distinguish them from the non-hazardous entries. The use of threshold concentrations for dangerous substances will be relevant to some of these waste streams. Further guidance is given in the Environment Agency's comprehensive guide to the classification of hazardous waste (WM2) available at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444217/590750/590821/502174/496498/?lang=e

Weed Killers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has conducted into the effects on (a) crops and (b) animals of using Roundup Biactive as a weed killer; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: All pesticides, including Roundup Biactive, marketed in the United Kingdom must be approved before use. Approval is only granted provided comprehensive scientific data has been supplied and evaluated by the regulatory authority to ensure that there will be no adverse effects on crops or risks to non-target animals. These expert evaluations are scrutinised by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides before approval is granted by Ministers.
	It is for companies to supply the necessary data to support approval. Government departments do not carry out separate investigations to evaluate applications. However, incidents involving the use of pesticides are investigated and if these investigations indicate a need to amend or revoke existing approvals then appropriate action will be taken.

Weed Killers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether local authorities have banned the use of Roundup Biactive; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra is not aware of any action taken to ban the use of Roundup Biactive. This is an approved pesticide product and its use is legal provided the conditions of use described on the label are followed.

Weed Killers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the complaints made by residents of St. Just in Cornwall about reactions to the use of Roundup Biactive; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra officials are not aware of any recent complaints made by St. Just residents. References have been found on non-governmental internet sites but these refer to complaints made in 1995. There is no indication that these complaints or any subsequent complaints were reported to enforcing agencies, or that they generated investigations at that time.

Weed Killers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring she carries out on the use of pesticides as weed killers by (a) Government agencies and (b) local government; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for monitoring the use of pesticides at work. Local authority Environmental Health Officers are responsible for matters regarding the use of pesticides in home/garden situations.

Weed Killers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's guidance on the use of materials containing Glyphosate.

Alun Michael: All pesticides, including those containing Glyphosate, are subject to the approval process. Approved products will have specific conditions for their use which are to be reproduced on the product label. For those pesticides used in farming, there is additional general guidance on safe practices contained within the statutory Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings. Where pesticides are used in amenity areas general guidance is contained in the industry's voluntary Code of Practice for the Use of Approved Pesticides in Amenity and Industrial Areas.
	Officials are currently working on a new statutory Code which will incorporate both of the above Codes. This is likely to be published in the summer of 2005.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Association of Accounting Technicians' position within the sector body, the Accountancy Occupational Standards Group.

Ivan Lewis: The Association of Accounting Technicians is one of four bodies that sponsor the Accountancy Occupational Standards Group. The other three are: the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much additional work has been required of course providers offering the Modern Apprenticeship in Accountancy and Payroll through the Association of Accounting Technicians since the introduction of the Technical Certificate requirement.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding the Learning and Skills Council has given to centres providing Modern Apprenticeships in Accountancy and Payroll through the Association of Accounting Technicians; and how much centres received for this Modern Apprenticeships course in the year prior to it receiving proxy status for Technical Certificates.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will request the Adult Learning Inspectorate to inspect NVQ and Modern Apprenticeships courses in accountancy and book-keeping.

Ivan Lewis: The Adult Learning Inspectorate (the ALI) inspects all providers delivering work-based and adult learning funded by the Learning and Skills Council, including NVQs and Modern Apprenticeships in accountancy and book-keeping. The ALI also carries out a programme of thematic surveys/studies in agreement with the Department. In June 2004, the ALI published the results of a thematic survey of the area of learning covering business administration, management and professional, which includes specialist provision in accounts.

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will examine mechanisms to ensure fair and open competition in the qualifications market in the fields of accounting and related occupations.

Ivan Lewis: The qualification market is an open market with employers and individuals free to choose whichever qualification best meets their needs.
	Before approving any qualifications as eligible for public funding, the Department takes advice from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Only qualifications that have met the QCA's published accreditation criteria are approved.

Accountancy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many guided learning hours are required to complete the Association of Accounting Technicians Book-keeping Certificate programme; and what representations she has received from course providers on how many hours are being offered.

Ivan Lewis: The Association of Accounting Technicians Book-keeping Certificate Level 2 (100/3075/X) has 120 guided learning hours.
	My right hon. Friend has had no representations from course providers on how many hours are being offered.

Adoption

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to assist potential parents in the process of adopting children; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: As part of the Government's commitment to modernising the adoption service, a number of changes have been introduced to improve the service from the perspective of adoptive parents by making it fairer, more transparent and more consistent.
	National adoption standards were issued in August 2001 to ensure that looked after children, birth families, prospective adopters and the general public understand what they can expect from the adoption service.
	The Adoption Register for England and Wales, which has been fully operational in England since April 2002, has been established as a tool for helping to match children in need of adoption with approved adopters.
	The Independent Review Mechanism came into operation on 30 April 2004 and gives a prospective adopter the right to apply to an independent body for a review of their case if his adoption agency does not propose to approve him as suitable to be an adoptive parent.
	In line with commitments made during the passage of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, a new national framework for adoption support services was implemented in October 2003, to encourage more people to adopt looked after children by helping to ensure the support that adoptive families need is available.
	As promised in the White Paper, Adoption: a new approach, the Government undertook a fundamental review of the adopter assessment process and the operation of adoption panels. The review was informed by a Stakeholder Group of representatives from across the adoption field and the findings were the subject of a consultation document published on 8 October 2002. Based on the responses to the consultation, the debates when the 2002 Act was before Parliament and the responses to the more recent consultation on draft regulations and supporting guidance on the adopter assessment process and the operation of adoption panels, the Government intends to make important changes to the way that prospective adopters are assessed and approved when the 2002 Act is implemented in full. This will enshrine the Government's commitment to remove perceived blanket bans so that every application to be approved as an adoptive parent will be judged entirely on its merits. The process of assessment, preparation and approval will be clearly set out in regulations, statutory guidance and practice guidance to ensure greater consistency across England and improved transparency for prospective adopters about the process.
	In addition, when the Adoption and Children Act 2002 is implemented in full next year, unmarried couples will, for the first time, be able to apply to adopt jointly.

Autism

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the applied behaviour analysis approach to educating children with autism.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has not made an assessment of applied behaviour analysis (ABA). The Department did publish a research report, compiled by the University of Birmingham, called Educational Interventions for Children with Autism: A Literature Review of Recent and Current Research in 1998. This found that almost all the interventions, including behavioural approaches, could point to evidence of success but that there was no well-founded evidence to show that any one approach was more effective than all the others nor which children on the autistic spectrum benefited most from which intervention. However, it did find that there were sufficiently positive findings across all studies of early intervention, including behavioural ones, to suggest that some form of early intervention is warranted.
	The Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs (SEN) advises schools and local education authorities (LEAs) that children's needs should be assessed individually and that provision should address the particular needs of the individual child. The Department's Good Practice Guidance on autistic spectrum disorders lists ABA as one of the approaches that is available to schools and LEAs. The Inclusion Development Programme, announced as part of the Department's SEN strategy in February last year, will be looking at developing our evidence base about what works in educating children with ASDs, including evidence on ABA, and building a consensus about how to implement good practice most effectively.

Correspondence

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter to her of 11 November from Helen Donovan.

Derek Twigg: The Department has no record of receiving a letter from Mrs. Helen Donovan dated 11 November.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by her Department.

Derek Twigg: In December 2004, the Department for Education and Skills had 253 purchasing cards in circulation.

Departmental Initiatives (Young People)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2004, Official Report, column 296W, on departmental initiatives (young people), if she will list the projects or initiatives which have been launched by her Department since 1997 which are no longer in operation.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 December 2004
	Since its inception in 2001, the Department for Education and Skills has kept under review the support it provides for young people aged 13 to 19 with the aim of ensuring that that support meets young people's current and anticipated needs.
	Within its current areas of responsibility there have been a number of projects and initiatives intended to help young people which have begun since 1997 and which have become part of our mainstream provision. Quality Protects, launched in 1998 by the Department of Health as part of the Government's wider strategy for tackling social exclusion, focused on children and young people looked after by councils, in the child protection system, and other children in need. The programme transferred to the Department for Education and Skills as part of the machinery of Government changes in 2003. The original provision of three years had already been extended to five years, with the programme being mainstreamed from 2004. The Young Runaways Development Project, for which the Children and Young People's Unit provided funding in 200203 and 200304, transferred to DfES and has now ended. Both programmes demonstrated effective ways of meeting the needs of children and young people which are enshrined in the Children Act 2004 and the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme, launched on 1 December, and which have introduced, among other provision, a statutory duty to promote the education and wellbeing of looked after children, a statutory duty on organisations working with children and young people to safeguard them and promote their welfare, and children's trust arrangements to focus integrated, multi-disciplinary support on the needs of children and young people. Similarly, Active Citizens in Schools, an award scheme that empowers young people to get involved in projects that benefit the school and wider community, ran as a pilot project from Spring 2002 until September 2004, and is now being made available to schools nationally through a Framework and Toolkit funded by DfES. Schools can then adapt the scheme to fit their needs.
	Other projects and initiatives have ended as they have been subsumed within other programmes: Connexions Summer Plus, which became part of the anti-crime Positive Activities for Young People programme; and New Start, which paved the way for Learning Gateway which evolved into Entry to Employment (E2E), the work-based programme for young people aged 1618 not yet ready or able to enter an apprenticeship, sustained employment or further vocational learning opportunities.

Early Interventions/Family Resolutions Projects

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons the Early Interventions project was changed to Family Resolutions; what the differences are between the two; and what the mechanisms for the change were.

Margaret Hodge: The Family Resolutions Pilot Project is designed to test the effectiveness of group work and information and parent planning measures in helping separating or separated parents reach agreement about contact and residence for their children, without needing formal family court proceedings. The Family Resolutions Pilot Project does not replace any other Early Interventions project. However, its development has been informed by a set of early intervention proposals that were received by the Government in autumn 2003, which had been drawn up by an ad hoc group, chaired by a judge. The Government-led Steering Group, set up to take forward the development and delivery of a pilot project, chose the name of the project, in recognition of the focus of the intervention and the late stage in the separation of the parents at which it would take place.
	The design of the Government's Family Resolutions Pilot Project drew on the experience of a range of similar approaches from other jurisdictions, in particular Florida, but also Scandinavia, California and Canada. However, the Florida early interventions approach differs from the Family Resolutions Pilot Project in that participation is compulsory in the Florida jurisdiction. Participation in the Family Resolutions Pilot Project could only have been made compulsory if there had first been a change in primary legislation. This would also have been necessary if we had wished to replicate the approach of other jurisdictions, in terms of any legal presumption of contact for parents and in terms of any expectation that parents must adhere to a prescribed pattern of contact, drawn from standard templates applied by the court.
	Under the Children Act 1984 the welfare of the child is the court's paramount consideration when determining any question with respect to a child's upbringing. Case law decided under the Children Act 1989 has established that it is generally in a child's best interests to have contact with both of his parents but there is no statutory presumption of contact nor does the Children Act provide standard patterns of contact to be prescribed to parents by the court. The Parenting Plans, which we are currently revising, will provide a set of templates which seek to show in practice the sort of contact arrangements that work well for children of different ages and circumstances. These will be available at all points throughout the systemin solicitors' offices as well as through advice and mediation services. They will make clear, in practical terms, arrangements that are generally beneficial for children. They are intended to be used as practical aids, both by parents themselves as well as by solicitors, conciliators and mediators, to assist parents to reach reasonable agreements. They will seek to illustrate what the courts might well decide if the case went to a full hearing. The revised Plans will shortly be published in draft form and will be the subject of consultation. Once published in final form, they will be used in both in-court conciliation services and the Family Resolutions Pilot Project.

Education

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding per (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil in Hertfordshire was in (a) 1995 and (b) 2004; and what the percentage change was.

Stephen Twigg: As a result of data changes and changes to the funding system, comparable figures are not available for 199596 and 199697. The following table shows per pupil figures in real terms for 199798 and 200405.
	
		Total funding per primary and secondary pupil in real terms in 199798 and 200405 for Hertfordshire ()
		
			  199798 200405 Percentage increase from 199798 to 200405 
		
		
			 Pupils aged 310 2,390 3,250 36 
			 Pupils aged 1115 3,260 4,100 26 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Price Base: Real terms at 200304 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS.
	3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 310 and 1115 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert  million figures to  per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	6. Status: 200405 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Education

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been made available to schools in Ribble Valley and Fulwood from the Special Education Needs Standard Fund since 2002.

Margaret Hodge: Standards Fund grants are allocated to local education authorities and devolved by them to schools. Lancashire county council received 1,865,070 in 200203 and 1,869,367 in 200304 through the Standards Fund grant for Special Educational Needs, including the local education authority contribution of 50 per cent. From 200405, the Special Educational Needs Grant became part of the School Development Grant, allocated to schools to use for any purpose to promote school improvement, including special educational needs. The notional amount allocated for special educational needs within Lancashire's School Development Grant is 1,944,142 in 200405.
	In 200203 and 200304, LEAs were permitted to retain up to 50 per cent. of their Special Educational Needs grant to support central services. In 200405, LEAs are allowed to retain the same cash amount from their School Development Grant as they had in 200304.

Education

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of residents in Ribble Valley and Fulwood have undertaken apprenticeships in each of the last seven years.

Ivan Lewis: Figures for Ribble Valley and Fulwood cannot be provided as information at parliamentary constituency level is not available. The following table shows the number of starts on Apprenticeships in (i) the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area between April 2001 and the end of July 2004; and (ii) in the two Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) areas that amalgamated into Lancashire LSCELTEC and LAWTEC between April 1997 and March 2001. Figures are expressed in numbers rather then as percentages as population estimates are not available for TEC areas.
	
		
			 Time period(5507180038) TEC/LSC Advanced apprenticeship Apprenticeship at level 2 
		
		
			 April 1997 to ELTEC 1,200  
			 March 1998 LAWTEC 1,800  
			 
			 April 1998 to ELTEC 1,000 400 
			 March 1999 LAWTEC 1,600 100 
			 
			 April 1999 to ELTEC 800 1,100 
			 March 2000 LAWTEC 1,900 1,800 
			 
			 April 2000 to ELTEC 900 1,300 
			 March 2001 LAWTEC 1,800 2,100 
			 
			 April 2001 to July 2002 Lancashire LSC 1,900 4,100 
			   
			 August 2002 to July 2003 Lancashire LSC 1,700 3,600 
			   
			 August 20003 to July 2004 Lancashire LSC 1,400 3,900 
		
	
	(5507180038) TECs reported the figures in financial years. LSC reports figures in academic years. The first LSC 'year' was 16 months in order to bring the financial year figures into line with academic years.
	Sources:
	TEC Management Information
	LSC Individualised Learner Record

Education Maintenance Allowance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne had applied for an education maintenance allowance as at the end of October; how many had received a notice of entitlement; and how many had been granted.

Ivan Lewis: By the end of October 2004 the Assessment and Payment Body had received 1,555 application forms for EMA in the Newcastle upon Tyne LEA area. Of these, 973 were successful and were sent a Notice of Entitlement (NoE) and 849 young people had received a payment after enrolling on a further education course. Most of the unsuccessful applicants were unfortunately outside the age criteria which, during the first year of implementation of the national scheme, are different for a non-pilot LEA area such as Newcastle upon Tyne, compared to EMA pilot areas.

English as a Second Language

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was made available to schools to teach children who have English as a second language in each year since 1997; and what funding will be made available in each year to 2004.

Stephen Twigg: The Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), an element of the Standards Fund, provides additional support to schools to raise the educational achievement of minority ethnic pupils and to meet the particular needs of pupils whose first language is other than English. EMAG evolved from what was the education element of the Home Office Section 11 Grant which ceased on 31 March 1999. EMAG was introduced by the DfES (then DfEE) in April 1999. The figures for EMAG since April 1999, including local authority matched funding, are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Total allocation () 
		
		
			 19992000 139,274,586 
			 200001 (5507180039)147,241,292 
			 200102 153,969,740 
			 200203 155,878,916 
			 200304 155,892,817 
			 200405 162,128,507 
		
	
	(5507180039) with the Traveller element removed
	Note:
	For 200001 only, the Traveller Achievement Grant was combined with EMAG. The total allocation of the Traveller element for 200001 was 15,700,527 and is not shown in this table.

Exeter University

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Higher Education Funding Council about the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter University;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Higher Education Funding Council about the proposed closure of undergraduate chemistry provision at Exeter University.

Kim Howells: I and the Secretary of State have discussed the implications of the Exeter announcement with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). HEFCE is monitoring the situation closely.
	Separately, I have asked HEFCE to advise me on higher education subjects or courses of national strategic importance, including science subjects, where intervention might be appropriate to strengthen or secure them. HEFCE will be entering into a strategic dialogue with universities, colleges, employers and other parties to consider this matter.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in his Department have been employed to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Stephen Twigg: Numbers of dedicated staff, as full-time equivalents, are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 1 
			 2002 1.6 
			 2003 2.6 
			 2004 2.6 
		
	
	One official has worked full-time on the implementation of Freedom of Information throughout, and additional resources from related and specialist areas e.g. data protection, records and information management have been added as necessary and as the profile of Freedom of Information has increased. Beyond these staff who are directly involved in the ongoing implementation (and post January 2005 in providing advice and guidance to departmental staff), it is difficult to identify precisely the number of officials who will be dealing with Freedom of Information issues from 1 January 2005, since it is potentially part of every civil servant's role to respond to Freedom of Information requests. The current staffing will be kept under review during 2005 and 2006 to ensure adequate advice, guidance and compliance.

Green Paper on Young People

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Green Paper on young people will be published; and what the cause of the delays to publication have been.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The Youth Green Paper is due for publication in the new year. The paper will set out a comprehensive offer for young people covering three main areas: things to do and places to go; targeted support for young people at risk; and universal information and support for young people and their parents.

Homophobic Bullying

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what measures her Department is taking to counter homophobic bullying in schools and colleges; and what the budget is for such measures.
	(2)  what steps she is taking to prevent homophobic bullying in schools and colleges.

Derek Twigg: Homophobic bullying, as with any other form of bullying, cannot be tolerated and we must challenge homophobic language and attitudes wherever we find them and support our children and young people to do the same.
	In November 2004, we organised the first ever National Anti-Bullying Week, in conjunction with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), which had a strong emphasis on combating homophobic bullying. During the week, my predecessor attended the 5th birthday celebration of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People, where he announced a new Diana Anti-Bullying Award, for which we have given funding of 50,000. At this event, he also launched new guidance for schools entitled Stand Up for Us: Challenging Homophobia in Schools which was prepared by the National Healthy Schools Standard with considerable input from the Department. Stand Up For Us sets out a practical approach for schools to quickly assess the scale of homophobic bullying they face. And it offers practical steps schools can take to create an environment where everyone can feel welcome and valued and where specific instances of bullying are identified, challenged and dealt with effectively.
	During anti-bullying week, we also published Homophobia, Sexual Orientation and Schools: a review and implications for action. This review, by the Thomas Coram Research Unit, looks at three areas: behaviour and bullying; teaching and learning about sexual orientation and relationships; and employment issues. It collates, summarises and assesses both peer reviewed research material, from this country and abroad, and less formal work conducted by bodies active in this area. It also reports the views of a wide range of organisations, 28 in all, with an interest in this area to paint a picture of how the issues are currently perceived. The report is available on the DfES website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research and the findings will be used to inform future work in this area.
	The Department's work in this critical area is ongoing and we are currently supporting Schools Out in promoting the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month in February 2005, and have funded the development of a website which will raise awareness and encourage participation. It will suggest activities and events that schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums, galleries, archives, and theatres can organise and offers teachers specific lesson plans and assembly suggestions to encourage and support schools in marking LGBT History Month. It will also provide an online notice board of events and link to current news relevant to LGBT History Month. See more at http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk.
	The Department has provided a further 600,000 to the Anti-Bullying Alliance to sustain the momentum for change. The Alliance will link with the work of the Department and join up with the key national strategies to work with schools and local education authorities to promote anti-bullying best practice across all schools, including countering homophobic bullying.

Increased Flexibility Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation has been undertaken of the impact of the Increased Flexibility programme on (a) behaviour, (b) attendance and (c) post-16 participation.

Stephen Twigg: The Department engaged the National Foundation for Educational Research to evaluate the Increased Flexibility programme. The report of the evaluation of the first year was published in February 2004 and the report of the evaluation of the second year is due to be published in January 2005. The evaluations have covered the experience of implementation and the impact on:
	progress towards qualifications
	social skills
	employability skills
	behaviour and attitudes
	attendance
	plans for progression
	partnership working
	A final report of the evaluation is due to be published in April 2005 and will include findings on post-16 participation of young people in the first cohort.
	The evaluation has involved questionnaires and interviews with a sample from the first two cohorts of IFP students and their associated schools, colleges and training providers. Interviews have also been conducted with a small number of employers and representatives of HEIs.

Infant Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many single form entry infant schools there were on 1 January 2004.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not collected centrally.

International Students (Visas)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the cost of processing a visa extension application made by an international student studying at a UK university.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	On 1 August 2003 the Home Office introduced charges for leave to remain applications, including those from international students. Fees were calculated to recover the full administrative costs (including staffing and overhead costs) of processing applications to the point of conveying a decision.
	We have recently consulted stakeholders on proposals to extend the principle of cost recovery charging, to include the costs of providing an appeal function and the costs of delivering enforcement activity. The consultation closed on 8 December 2004.
	A full analysis of responses will be undertaken following the consultation and published in January 2005. On the basis of the responses received and evidence gathered during the consultation period, a final decision on the proposals will be taken in early 2005. The fees will then be recalculated to reflect up to date budget and forecast information. Regulations will be laid before Parliament seeking approval for the final fees, which will take effect from 1 April 2005.

Lifelong Learning

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost is of the Lifelong Learning Initiative; and what proportion has been spent on (a) intermediaries and (b) front-line service providers.

Ivan Lewis: Total Government expenditure on lifelong learning, covering Further Education, skills and to develop the 1419 phase, was around 9 billion in 200304. The latest forecast of administration expenditure for the Learning and Skills Council in 200304 is around 233 million. This represents a saving of around 50 million compared to the combined administration cost of the Training and Enterprise Councils and the Further Education Funding Council, before the setting up of the Learning and Skills Council.

Local Authority Plans

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the process is for amending a local education authority's (a) Education Development Plan and (b) School Organisation Plan; and whether approval to do so has to be sought from the Secretary of State.

Stephen Twigg: The LEA amends the Education Development Plan (EDP) by carrying out an annual review, which is submitted to the Department in July each year. The Secretary of State does not approve the annual review.
	There are no formal procedures for amending a School Organisation Plan (SOP), but an LEA must produce a new plan if there is a change in policy, strategy or local circumstances, relating to the organisation of schools, before the next plan is due. SOPs must be approved by the local School Organisation Committee (SOC) or the Schools Adjudicator if the SOC cannot reach a unanimous decision. The Secretary of State has no role in the approval process.
	Planning requirements for children's services are being rationalised to help local authorities to operate more effectively in delivering outcomes for children and to reduce bureaucracy. The Children Act 2004 repeals requirements for the EDP and SOP, among requirements for other plans, and also provides for regulations requiring a Children's Services Authority (CSA) to produce a single plan for children's servicesthe Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP).
	Legislation is likely to commence as soon as possible to allow authorities to develop the CYPP. The EDP annual review will not therefore be required for July 2005.

Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency of her Department's policies since 8 June 2001.

Stephen Twigg: The Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency lies within Middlesbrough local education authority. Available information by constituency, is provided within the Department's 'In Your Area' website available at http://www.dfes.gov. uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offers comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, government office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including Literacy and Numeracy at age 11, Literacy and Numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, Pupils with Special Educational Needs, School Initiatives, School Workforce, School Funding and Resources, Children's Social Services, Early Years, Class Sizes, Post 16, Higher Education and Adult Education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The 'In Your Area' website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about Adult Education, School Funding, School Initiatives, School Performance, School Workforce and Post 16.

Oratory School

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact on the School Admissions Code of the judgement made in favour of the Oratory School in the High Court.

Stephen Twigg: We are considering the judgment and what, if any, action to take in response.

Primary Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what representations she has received concerning the impact of workforce reform on primary schools;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the financial cost of introducing 10 per cent. planning preparation and assessment time in primary schools;
	(3)  what element of the increase in school funding for 200506 is to meet the school's requirement to provide 10 per cent. planning preparation and assessment time in primary schools.

Stephen Twigg: We have had some correspondence from the primary sector concerning the impact of workforce reform on schools. Last summer we worked with six LEAs and about a dozen schools in each of those LEAs to get a better understanding of their starting points, how they planned to deliver the reforms and to what extent that could be achieved through the redeployment of existing resources.
	Based on that work, the minimum per-pupil funding guarantee for primary (and nursery) schools was set at 5 per cent. in 200506, 1 per cent. higher than for secondary and special schools, to take account of the need to provide teachers with guaranteed time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA).
	The precise cost at school level of introducing PPA time will depend on the strategies schools choose to implement the reforms.

School Sport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement on school sport of 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 122WS, how much of the two hours minimum of high quality PE and sport at school for children will occur (a) in curriculum time, (b) before school, (c) at lunch time, (d) at break time and (e) after school; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: It is for schools to determine the content and structure of their physical education and sports provision. This includes deciding on the mix and balance between what is delivered within and outside of the curriculum. Guidance published by the Department for Education and Skills and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority recommends that 75 minutes per week is required to deliver the physical education programme of study at Key Stages 1 and 2 effectively, and 90 minutes per week at Key Stage 3. At Key Stage 4 the focus is on health, fitness and wellbeing. Our ambition, by 2010, is that all children will be offered at least four hours of sport every week. This will comprise at least two hours of high quality physical education and sport at school and at least a further two-three hours of sport beyond the school day (delivered by a range of school, community and club providers). The expectation is that by 2010 schools will be delivering the two hours of high quality PE and sport at school entirely within the curriculum.

Science Teaching

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase the study of science subjects at (a) GCSE and (b) A-Level; and what incentives are offered to encourage the study of science subjects at university.

Kim Howells: holding answer 16 December 2004
	Science is part of the National Curriculum at Key Stage 4 (GCSE). This means that all students are required to study it unless the subject has been disapplied to enable extended work related learning. In the Government's 10 Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework, we outlined how we would increase the number of young people studying science at A level by improving science teaching, making additional incentives available to get more top quality graduates to train to be science teachers. These include increasing the value of the teacher training bursary for science graduates from 6,000 to 7,000 from September 2005 and raising the 'Golden Hello' for new science teachers from 4,000 to 5,000 for trainees entering PGCE and equivalent courses from September 2005. It is generally for universities to decide whether to offer incentives for students to study particular subjects. In the 10 Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework, we said that the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) would provide support to universities, industry and scientific societies in their science outreach activities to schools and colleges.. From 200607, the Institute of Physics plans to introduce a means-tested bursary scheme for students who study physics at university.

Shared Parenting Cases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Government supports maximum contact for non-resident parents in shared parenting cases.

Margaret Hodge: The Government believe that children benefit from a continuing relationship with both parents following divorce or separation, where it is safe to do so. The Children Act 1989 makes the welfare of the child concerned, rather than the rights of the parent, the paramount consideration for family courts when considering matters relating to the upbringing of children. The assumption that both parents have equal status and value as parents is enshrined in current statute and case law.
	While the law is clear, we recognise that the current systems for resolving disputes need to be improved. Our Parental Separation Green Paper proposes a substantial range of measures which, we hope, will achieve major improvements to the system. These measures include:
	access to quality information and advice material, made available through solicitors, mediators, by telephone and on websites to help parents to arrive at agreed and practicable contact and residence arrangements in the interests of the child without recourse to the courts;
	a telephone helpline, providing general legal advice on the implications of relationship breakdown;
	the development of Parenting Plansa set of templates which seek to show in practice the sort of contact arrangements that work well for children of different ages and circumstances. These will be available at all points throughout the systemin solicitors' offices as well as through advice and mediation services. They will make clear, in practical terms, arrangements that are generally beneficial for children. They are intended to be used as practical aids, both by parents themselves as well as by solicitors, conciliators and mediators, to assist parents to reach reasonable agreements. They will seek to illustrate what the courts might well decide if the case went to a full hearing;
	change family legal aid to promote conciliation in the interests of the child;
	through the relevant professional bodies, improve accreditation for solicitors providing advice on family matters concerning children;
	pilot the use of collaborative law where both parents' lawyers are committed to promoting settlements without going to court;
	provide greater encouragement for parents to participate in family mediation that can provide an alternative to court based resolution;
	promote in-court conciliation and mediation services throughout the courts;
	development a more intensive set of interventions for more difficult cases, which seek to shift the behaviour of parents who are in dispute through understanding that their child needs and benefits from a continuing relationship with both parents, through the Family Resolutions Pilot Project, currently being piloted in three areas. It uses a video, group discussions and parent planning sessions, spread across at least three separate sessions, undertaken under the direction and authority of the court, but seeking to avoid, as far as possible, a full formal court hearing;
	support CAFCASS to direct resources to out of court settlements and to help parents implement their agreements;
	improve case management by the courts, through the earlier listing of cases, with a rapid return to court where needed, with cases being considered throughout by the same judge; and
	provide courts with a more flexible range of levers to promote settlements and to enforce contact orders by, for example, referring parties to specialist parenting or community based programmes or through the awarding of financial compensation where the defaulting parent has caused loss to the other parent.
	We are currently reviewing the responses to the consultation in the Green Paper.

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact on post-16 participation rates of the availability of school sixth forms.

Kim Howells: The Department's five-year strategy includes the estimate that over the next five years some 100,000 additional places for 1619 year olds will be needed. That means we will need more school and college sixth forms and more apprenticeships and other vocational opportunities, with providers collaborating and contributing their areas of expertise to a broad collective offer for all the young people in their locality.

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with Learning and Skills Councils about the Department's support for school sixth forms.

Kim Howells: The Department's five-year strategy sets out new measures to promote increased choice for 1619 year olds including, where appropriate, increased choice of school sixth forms.
	The measures include:
	competitions, administered by the LSC, for substantial new 1619 provision, with a view to opening up the provider market;
	a new 1619 capital fund, administered by the LSC, that will bring together school and college funding;
	a presumption that proposals from leading specialist schools to open sixth forms will be approved by the Schools Organisation Committee in areas where school sixth form provision is lacking or 1619 participation or attainment is low.
	Officials are working with the LSC to develop guidance that will help local partners implement these measures. The Department and the LSC plan to consult on the guidance in January with a view to issuing it in March, when we will place a copy in the House of Commons Library.

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact that a sixth form has on a school's performance at (a) Key Stage 3 and (b) Key Stage 4.

Stephen Twigg: The provisional figures for 2004 for England indicate that 55.9 per cent. of 15-year-old pupils in maintained mainstream schools with sixth forms achieved five or more grades A*-C at GCSE and equivalent compared with 46.7 per cent. of those in schools without sixth forms.
	The percentage of pupils in maintained mainstream schools with and without sixth-forms achieving level 5 or above in the National Curriculum Key Stage 3 assessment tests in English, mathematics and science in 2004 are as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  Schools with sixth forms Schools without sixth forms 
		
		
			 English 75 67 
			 Mathematics 76 70 
			 Science 70 62

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school sixth forms have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: Since 1997, in England:
	(a) 76 school sixth forms have opened and
	(b) 37 school sixth forms have closed.

Special Educational Needs

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list schools in England which have been (a) developed and (b) re-developed since 2001 to educate children (i) with and (ii) without special educational needs in a single environment, broken down by estimated capital value.

Stephen Twigg: Capital funding is allocated directly to local authorities and schools, and is spent by local authorities in accordance with local management plans. No information is held centrally on schools that have been developed or re-developed.

Special Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were educated in special schools in each local education authority in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Special schools(5507180040): Full-time equivalent number of pupils(5507180041)position in January each year: 1997 and 2004by local education authority area
		
			   FTE number of pupils 
			   1997 2004 
		
		
			  England 96,720 90,650 
			 
			  North East 6,420 5,800 
			 841 Darlington  220 
			 913 Durham(5507180042) 1,160  
			 840 Durham(5507180043)  1,070 
			 390 Gateshead 400 390 
			 805 Hartlepool 230 150 
			 806 Middlesbrough 510 420 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 840 580 
			 392 North Tyneside 620 610 
			 929 Northumberland 560 510 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 220 220 
			 393 South Tyneside 420 440 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 560 500 
			 394 Sunderland 880 710 
			  North West 15,740 14,210 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen  330 
			 890 Blackpool  290 
			 350 Bolton 500 440 
			 351 Bury 250 220 
			 906 Cheshire(5507180042) 1,780  
			 875 Cheshire(5507180043)  1,150 
			 909 Cumbria 270 430 
			 876 Halton  350 
			 340 Knowsley 660 520 
			 923 Lancashire(5507180042) 3,040  
			 888 Lancashire(5507180043)  2,220 
			 341 Liverpool 1,620 1,230 
			 352 Manchester 1,430 1,210 
			 353 Oldham 540 430 
			 354 Rochdale 520 510 
			 355 Salford 580 480 
			 343 Sefton 520 450 
			 342 St. Helens 470 360 
			 356 Stockport 680 580 
			 357 Tameside 470 380 
			 358 Trafford 440 460 
			 877 Warrington  360 
			 359 Wigan 950 800 
			 344 Wirral 1,020 1,020 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 8,570 7,700 
			 370 Barnsley 170 160 
			 380 Bradford 890 890 
			 381 Calderdale 230 250 
			 371 Doncaster 930 630 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 430 400 
			 920 Humberside   
			 810 Kingston upon Hull, City of 480 390 
			 382 Kirklees 690 700 
			 383 Leeds 1,160 1,010 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 180 240 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 180 190 
			 927 North Yorkshire(5507180042)   
			 815 North Yorkshire(5507180043) 700 690 
			 372 Rotherham 670 690 
			 373 Sheffield 860 810 
			 384 Wakefield 660 420 
			 816 York 360 240 
			 
			  East Midlands 5,890 5,900 
			 831 Derby  480 
			 910 Derbyshire(5507180042) 1,320  
			 830 Derbyshire(5507180043)  750 
			 856 Leicester  770 
			 924 Leicestershire(5507180042) 1,210  
			 855 Leicestershire(5507180043)  530 
			 925 Lincolnshire 1,130 1,180 
			 928 Northamptonshire 990 1,000 
			 892 Nottingham  370 
			 930 Nottinghamshire(5507180042) 1,240  
			 891 Nottinghamshire(5507180043)  810 
			 857 Rutland  20 
			 
			  West Midlands 12,560 12,130 
			 330 Birmingham 3,060 3,040 
			 331 Coventry 840 830 
			 332 Dudley 700 650 
			 918 Hereford and Worcester(5507180042) 1,430  
			 884 Herefordshire  180 
			 333 Sandwell 800 450 
			 932 Shropshire(5507180042) 650  
			 893 Shropshire(5507180043)  280 
			 334 Solihull 370 360 
			 934 Staffordshire(5507180042) 2,520  
			 860 Staffordshire(5507180043)  2,010 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent  510 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin  440 
			 335 Walsall 570 510 
			 937 Warwickshire 1,090 980 
			 336 Wolverhampton 540 640 
			 885 Worcestershire  1,240 
			  East of England 9,260 8,880 
			 902 Bedfordshire(5507180042) 1,300  
			 820 Bedfordshire(5507180043)  960 
			 905 Cambridgeshire(5507180042) 1,240  
			 873 Cambridgeshire(5507180043)  830 
			 915 Essex(5507180042) 2,850  
			 881 Essex(5507180043)  1,870 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2,110 2,160 
			 821 Luton  250 
			 926 Norfolk 940 910 
			 874 Peterborough  350 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea  470 
			 935 Suffolk 810 840 
			 883 Thurrock  240 
			 
			  London 12,270 11,770 
			  Inner London 4,900 4,350 
			 202 Camden 310 300 
			 201 City of London 0 0 
			 204 Hackney 470 350 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 330 270 
			 309 Haringey 340 320 
			 206 Islington 270 260 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 60 70 
			 208 Lambeth 620 520 
			 209 Lewisham 530 520 
			 316 Newham 100 70 
			 210 Southwark 420 470 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 510 350 
			 212 Wandsworth 810 720 
			 213 Westminster 120 140 
			 
			  Outer London 7,370 7,410 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 180 210 
			 302 Barnet 310 340 
			 303 Bexley 320 420 
			 304 Brent 440 420 
			 305 Bromley 400 480 
			 306 Croydon 510 560 
			 307 Ealing 530 480 
			 308 Enfield 480 460 
			 203 Greenwich 740 440 
			 310 Harrow 190 270 
			 311 Havering 210 250 
			 312 Hillingdon 620 620 
			 313 Hounslow 400 410 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 230 250 
			 315 Merton 260 240 
			 317 Redbridge 410 440 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 160 140 
			 319 Sutton 270 350 
			 320 Waltham Forest 720 630 
			 
			  South East 17,560 16,950 
			 903 Berkshire(5507180042) 1,870  
			 867 Bracknell Forest  170 
			 846 Brighton and Hove  810 
			 904 Buckinghamshire(5507180042) 1,730  
			 825 Buckinghamshire(5507180043)  1,060 
			 914 East Sussex(5507180042) 1,800  
			 845 East Sussex(5507180043)  1,080 
			 917 Hampshire(5507180042) 3,560  
			 850 Hampshire(5507180043)  2,400 
			 921 Isle of Wight 360 280 
			 922 Kent(5507180042) 3,420  
			 886 Kent(5507180043)  3,030 
			 887 Medway  460 
			 826 Milton Keynes  560 
			 931 Oxfordshire 1,000 930 
			 851 Portsmouth  430 
			 870 Reading  190 
			 871 Slough  250 
			 852 Southampton  350 
			 936 Surrey 2,440 2,430 
			 869 West Berkshire  550 
			 938 West Sussex 1,390 1,460 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead  190 
			 872 Wokingham  310 
			  South West 8,450 7,300 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 330 300 
			 837 Bournemouth  210 
			 801 Bristol, City of 870 680 
			 908 Cornwall 360 450 
			 911 Devon(5507180042) 2,210  
			 878 Devon(5507180043)  970 
			 912 Dorset(5507180042) 1,150  
			 835 Dorset(5507180043)  550 
			 916 Gloucestershire 1,350 990 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 802 North Somerset 270 250 
			 879 Plymouth  620 
			 836 Poole  340 
			 933 Somerset 680 470 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 390 290 
			 866 Swindon  390 
			 880 Torbay  310 
			 939 Wiltshire(5507180042) 850  
			 865 Wiltshire(5507180043)  480 
		
	
	(5507180040) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(5507180041) Excludes dually registered pupils. For the purpose of calculating the full time equivalent of pupils, part-time pupils are counted as 0.5.
	(5507180042) Before local government reorganisation.
	(5507180043) After local government reorganisation.
	Note:
	Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Specialist Schools

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications the Department received in 2003 from schools in England for specialist status; and how many of these were successful.

Stephen Twigg: 787 secondary schools in England applied for specialist school status in 2003, and 484 of these were successful (61.5 per cent.). In the first applications round of 2004, 385 secondary schools applied and 284 (74 per cent.) were successful. 289 schools have applied in the most recent applications round. The results of this round will be announced in January. The total number of operational specialist schools is 1,955.

Statementing

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were statemented in each year since 1997 in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local authority.

Margaret Hodge: Tables showing the number of statements of special educational needs (SEN) maintained by each local education authority and the number of children for whom a statement was made for the first time have been placed in the House of Commons Libraries.

Sure Start

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what entitlement schools in the Vale of York have to access Sure Start funding.

Margaret Hodge: The General Sure Start Grant includes all funds made available to local authorities from the Sure Start budget with the exception of those to support local Sure Start programmes. Local authorities are required to use General Sure Start Grant funds to meet specific objectives and targets set for them by the Sure Start Unit.
	Although schools have no specific entitlement, it is open to local authorities to allocate Sure Start funds to local schools where they consider it meets objectives. Schools in the Vale of York could potentially have access to funding related to the development of extended schools (from 200506) and revenue grant funding for the provision of breakfast and out of school clubs.
	Local authorities are also encouraged to develop children's centres for families with children aged 05 years on school sites and can allocate funds to schools to achieve that. However, such funding is only currently available in areasunlike the Vale of Yorkwhich are considered to be disadvantaged.
	In December 2004 the Government published Choice for parents, the best start for children: a ten year strategy for childcare. That set out our vision for the future, whereby all familiesin the Vale of York, as elsewherewith children aged up to 14 and who need it will have an affordable, flexible, high quality child care place between the hours of eight and six, all year round. We have also said that we intend all schools to become extended schools over time and funding will be made available to all local authorities to support that.

Surplus School Places

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times the working party on surplus school places has met since it was established in February 2004; and who its members are.

Stephen Twigg: The working group on falling primary school rolls has met four times-in May, July, November and December 2004. The next meeting will be in January 2005. Key stakeholder organisations were invited to nominate representatives. Members and their organisations are listed in the following table. The working group is serviced by DfES officials and meetings are attended by Audit Commission officials whose work the group is overseeing.
	
		Working group members
		
			  
		
		
			 Kathryn James National Association of Head Teachers 
			 Lindsey Wharmby Secondary Heads Association 
			 Judith Bennett National Governors Council 
			 Hadrian Southern National Association of Governors and Managers 
			 Ian Elliott Local Government Associationto November 2004 awaitingreplacement 
			 Bryan Slater Norfolk LEA 
			 Brian Edwards Northumberland LEA 
			 Selina Timmins Birmingham LEA 
			 Ian Craig Kent LEA 
			 David Whittington Church of England Board of Education 
			 Paul Briggs Catholic Education Service 
			 Robert Barr Ofsted HMI LEA Divisionto December 2004 
			 Marianick Mellender-Gele Ofsted HMI LEA Divisionfrom January 2005 
			 Jean Scott Countryside Agency/DEFRA 
			 Steve Sanderson Primary Heads Reference Groupfrom January 2005

Surplus School Places

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of surplus (a) primary and (b) secondary school places there are in each local education authority.

Stephen Twigg: The following table shows the number of surplus school places and the surplus as a percentage of total places at primary and secondary level, broken down by local education authority. The figures state the position at the beginning of the calendar year 2003.
	
		Number of surplus school places by LEA at January 2003
		
			  Primary Secondary 
			 LEA name Number of places Surplus as a percentage of total places Number of places Surplus as a percentage of total places 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,342 8 604 5 
			 Barnet 2,520 10 960 4 
			 Barnsley 1,175 6 805 6 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 1,520 11 843 6 
			 Bedfordshire 3,265 12 3,060 8 
			 Bexley 1,779 8 812 4 
			 Birmingham 7,162 7 2,998 4 
			 Blackburn 1,048 7 795 8 
			 Blackpool 719 6 335 4 
			 Bolton 1,690 7 373 2 
			 Bournemouth 1,182 10 490 5 
			 Bracknell Forest 972 10 895 13 
			 Bradford 7,150 14 2,992 8 
			 Brent 2,950 13 1,185 7 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,790 10 889 7 
			 Bristol 3,880 13 2,039 11 
			 Bromley 1,559 6 480 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 4,332 10 1,257 4 
			 Bury 1,102 7 253 2 
			 Calderdale 1,891 10 497 3 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,819 12 3,236 9 
			 Camden 1,077 10 84 1 
			 Cheshire 7,505 12 2,837 6 
			 Cornwall 4,154 10 1,376 4 
			 Corporation of London 6 3 0 0 
			 Coventry 2,935 10 1,542 7 
			 Croydon 2,414 8 1,923 10 
			 Cumbria 3,450 8 4,207 11 
			 Darlington 849 9 548 8 
			 Derby City of 2,356 10 755 5 
			 Derbyshire 6,504 10 3,117 6 
			 Devon 5,291 9 1,523 4 
			 Doncaster 3,152 14 1,712 7 
			 Dorset 3,185 11 1,731 5 
			 Dudley 2,687 9 595 3 
			 Durham 8,552 18 4,079 11 
			 Ealing 2,523 10 666 4 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,606 9 1,011 4 
			 East Sussex 2,791 7 1,670 6 
			 Enfield 995 4 2,326 10 
			 Essex 13,462 11 6,003 6 
			 Gateshead 2,710 15 972 8 
			 Gloucestershire 4,794 10 2,737 6 
			 Greenwich 2,289 11 1,905 12 
			 Hackney 1,947 117 931 11 
			 Halton 1,258 11 383 4 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,254 13 1,369 18 
			 Hampshire 10,414 10 5,001 7 
			 Haringey 1,616 8 698 6 
			 Harrow 2,832 13 283 3 
			 Hartlepool 837 9 629 9 
			 Havering 1,155 6 974 6 
			 Herefordshire 1,421 10 495 5 
			 Hertfordshire 13,231 13 9,832 11 
			 Hillingdon 2,528 11 1,133 6 
			 Hounslow 2,174 11 441 3 
			 Isle of Wight 1,012 12 1,543 11 
			 Isles of Scilly 265 0 0 0 
			 Islington 1,760 12 589 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 617 9 202 5 
			 Kent 9,455 8 6,915 7 
			 Kingston upon Hull City of 3,913 15 1,070 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 768 7 619 7 
			 Kirklees 3,948 11 2,989 10 
			 Knowsley 3,595 20 1,768 15 
			 Lambeth 1,826 9 762 10 
			 Lancashire 12,466 12 4,816 6 
			 Leeds 8,487 13 3,647 7 
			 Leicester City 4,120 14 744 4 
			 Leicestershire 5,629 10 1,816 4 
			 Lewisham 2,343 11 711 6 
			 Lincolnshire 6,844 11 3,533 7 
			 Liverpool 5,906 14 2,286 6 
			 Luton 1,756 9 344 3 
			 Manchester 5,690 14 1,614 6 
			 Medway Towns 2,574 10 1,649 8 
			 Merton 2,836 19 870 9 
			 Middlesbrough 2,245 15 797 10 
			 Milton Keynes 3,266 13 1,542 11 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,280 11 1,427 7 
			 Newham 1,729 6 1,326 7 
			 Norfolk 8,197 11 2,939 6 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,865 12 931 7 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,101 8 1,167 10 
			 North Somerset 782 5 250 2 
			 North Tyneside 2,726 15 826 6 
			 North Yorkshire 6,229 12 3,417 8 
			 Northamptonshire 5,847 10 4,598 8 
			 Northumberland 2,550 13 2,465 8 
			 Nottingham City of 3,940 15 1,540 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,121 9 3,670 7 
			 Oldham 2,332 10 888 5 
			 Oxfordshire 6,813 14 2,341 6 
			 Peterborough 2,756 15 1,898 13 
			 Plymouth City of 3,017 13 863 5 
			 Poole 726 6 205 2 
			 Portsmouth 2,384 14 802 7 
			 Reading 1,751 16 854 12 
			 Redbridge 1,091 5 1,245 6 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,762 13 1,204 11 
			 Richmond upon Thames 732 6 359 5 
			 Rochdale 2,818 13 1,224 8 
			 Rotherham 1,988 8 1,312 6 
			 Rutland 608 19 345 13 
			 Salford 3,097 14 2,154 15 
			 Sandwell 4,096 13 1,917 9 
			 Sefton 3,344 13 874 4 
			 Sheffield 4,587 10 700 2 
			 Shropshire 3,787 15 573 3 
			 Slough 1,564 13 309 4 
			 Solihull 1,162 6 164 1 
			 Somerset 4,936 12 2,550 7 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,942 11 1,462 8 
			 South Tyneside 1,853 13 1,461 12 
			 Southampton 1,776 10 1,478 11 
			 Southend 723 5 638 5 
			 Southwark 2,737 11 686 6 
			 St. Helens 1,402 9 298 2 
			 Staffordshire 8,256 11 2,602 4 
			 Stockport 2,302 9 794 5 
			 Stockton on Tees 1,947 11 839 6 
			 Stoke on Trent 3,663 16 487 3 
			 Suffolk 5,688 11 4,957 8 
			 Sunderland 3,844 14 2,146 10 
			 Surrey 8,501 10 3,706 6 
			 Sutton 915 6 598 4 
			 Swindon 2,146 11 877 7 
			 Tameside 1,824 9 808 5 
			 Telford and the Wrekin 1,542 10 854 8 
			 Thurrock 2,271 15 760 9 
			 Torbay 807 8 145 2 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,013 9 1,424 9 
			 Trafford 1,187 6 993 6 
			 Wakefield 3,846 12 614 3 
			 Walsall 3,334 12 998 4 
			 Waltham Forest 1,272 6 980 7 
			 Wandsworth 2,025 12 679 6 
			 Warrington 1,857 10 395 3 
			 Warwickshire 4,263 10 2,652 7 
			 West Berkshire 1,328 10 330 3 
			 West Sussex 7,348 11 3,804 8 
			 Westminster 1,122 11 840 9 
			 Wigan 2,676 9 1,441 7 
			 Wiltshire 6,877 16 3,974 12 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 670 8 524 5 
			 Wirral 3,735 13 1,472 6 
			 Wokingham 1,304 10 316 3 
			 Wolverhampton 3,436 14 1,713 9 
			 Worcestershire 4,616 11 2,589 6 
			 York 2,455 16 608 6 
			 Total 482,078 11 231,391 7

Teachers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the gender ratio of registered teachers in maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools is, broken down into age categories of (i) less than 24, (ii) 25 to 34, (iii) 35 to 44, (iv) 45 to 54 and (v) greater than 55 years;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of teachers employed in maintained schools were aged (a) under 24, (b) 25 to 34, (c) 35 to 44, (d) 45 to 54 and (e) over 55 years on the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The data requested are shown in the following table. The table shows full-time teachers in service in March 2003 1 , the most recent date for which data are available.
	1 Provisional figures.
	
		All schools: full-time regular qualified teachers(5507180044)
		
			  Nursery and primary Secondary 
			  Percentage Ratio Percentage Ratio Total 
			 Aged Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Number (thousands) Percentage 
		
		
			 Less than 24 8 92 1 11.5 27 73 1 2.6 17.5 5 
			 25 to 34 14 86 1 6.4 38 62 1 1.7 101.8 28 
			 35 to 44 19 81 1 4.3 48 52 1 1.1 76.7 21 
			 45 to 54 16 84 1 5.2 48 52 1 1.1 132.4 36 
			 Greater than 55 18 82 1 4.5 52 48 1 0.9 36.8 10 
		
	
	(5507180044) Includes heads, deputy heads, assistant heads, classroom, AST, post threshold and grade unknown.
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records

Teachers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the teacher workforce he expects will retire in each of the next 10 years.

Stephen Twigg: The information is not available in the form requested.
	In the Teacher Supply Modelused to inform decisions on the number of places to make available in Initial Teacher Trainingwe take into account teachers leaving the profession through both general wastage and retirement. If we consider total wastage (including any form of retirement) of teachers aged 50 and over, as a percentage of the teacher workforce in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, thenunder the central scenario modelledthis rate rises from 3.7 per cent. in 200203 to 5.0 per cent. in 200708, and then falls slightly to around 4 per cent. in 201213. It should be noted that these figures become progressively more uncertain the further ahead they are modelled. The modelling assumptions are reviewed annually.
	Proposed changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme that will apply to all scheme members by 2013 are aimed at giving teachers much more choice and flexibility about the ways in which they manage the transition from work to retirement. We expect that teachers will welcome a more flexible approach that will enable them to move more gradually from work to retirement than is possible under current arrangements.

Truancy

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in (a) West Derbyshire constituency and (b) Derbyshire played truant from school in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is as follows:
	
		West Derbyshire constituency
		
			 Academic year (September-May) Compulsory school age Number of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence Average sessions missed per pupil due to unauthorised absence Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence Attendance (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Primary  
			 2004 6,545 662 6 0.2 95.6 
			 2003 6,577 755 6 0.2 95.4 
			 2002 6,346 724 6 0.2 95.3 
			 2001 6,530 475 7 0.2 95.4 
			 2000 6,604 398 6 0.1 95.6 
			 Secondary  
			 2004 6,388 675 17 0.6 93.7 
			 2003 6,340 659 18 0.6 93.5 
			 2002 6,157 509 23 0.6 92.0 
			 2001 6,047 575 22 0.7 92.3 
			 2000 6,074 492 20 0.5 93.0 
		
	
	
		Derbyshire
		
			 Academic Year (September-May) Compulsory school age Number of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence Average sessions missed per pupil due to unauthorised absence Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence Attendance (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Primary  
			 2004 54,232 9,119 7 0.4 94.7 
			 2003 55,418 9,759 7 0.4 94.4 
			 2002 56,163 10,286 7 0.4 94.5 
			 2001 56,883 8,603 8 0.4 94.6 
			 2000 57,366 6,399 8 0.3 94.9 
			 Secondary  
			 2004 46,178 9,876 14 1.0 92.2 
			 2003 45,344 9,327 14 1.0 92.0 
			 2002 44,151 7,348 17 1.0 91.6 
			 2001 43,442 8,003 17 1.0 91.4 
			 2000 42,602 7,319 17 0.9 92.1

Young Families (Funding)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much expenditure has been allocated to families with children aged 0 to five years in each year from 1997 to 2008;
	(2)  when she will reply to the question from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead tabled on 25 November, reference 199715.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 November 2004
	Details of the annual expenditure since 1997 on Sure Start, childcare and nursery education are published in Table 2.2 of the annual Department for Education and Skills' Departmental Report, as follows. To reflect the increasing integration of services for young children and families, from 200304 funding for childcare and nursery education was merged into Sure Start.
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Sure start Childcare Nursery education Total 
		
		
			 199798 n/a 4 637 641 
			 199899 n/a 45 134 179 
			 19992000 7 56 150 213 
			 200001 56 65 247 368 
			 200102 134 109 224 467 
			 200203 216 158 306 680 
			 200304 745   745 
		
	
	Note:
	The scale of spending identified in 199798 was due to a major injection of Nursery Education Grant funding to support the establishment of substantial free provision in the private and voluntary sectors.
	In addition, from April 2003 all financial support for the delivery of free nursery education was consolidated within the under fives sub-block of each local authority's Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)the main source of education funding. Prior to that, provision in the private, voluntary and independent sectors and new places in the maintained sector, were funded through a separate, ring-fenced, nursery education grant, while existing places in the maintained sector were funded through the Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs). Support for free nursery education since 1997 as part of SSA and EFSS was as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year  million 
		
		
			 199798 562 
			 199899 1,170 
			 19992000 1,280 
			 200001 1,340 
			 200102 1,490 
			 200203 1,620 
			 200304 2,600 
		
	
	Following the substantially increased support announced in the Spending Review 2004 and the pre-Budget report 2004, allocations for the Sure Start operational budget for the current financial year, and the next Spending Review period, are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year  million 
		
		
			 200405 866 
			 200506 1,144 
			 200607 1,671 
			 200708 1,784 
		
	
	As a result, Sure Start resources will more than double over the four year period, a rise in average annual real terms of 24 per cent.
	The allocation includes extensive support to local authorities to help establish our network of children's centres, delivering a wide range of early learning, childcare, health and family support. There will be 2,500 centres by 2008, and 3,500, one in every community, by 2010.
	These totals take no account of the significant increases in Government funding on child benefit, parental leave and tax credit support, all of which support families with children.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Community Housing Task Force

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) large scale voluntary transfers and (b) arm's length management organisation transfers the community housing task force has worked on.

Keith Hill: To date the community housing task force has worked on 127 large scale voluntary transfer schemes and 51 arms length management organisation schemes.

Compensation Claims

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many claims for compensation due to injury from slips, trips or falls on council property or property maintained by the local authority have been lodged against each London local authority in each of the past two years; and how much money each London local authority paid out in compensation relating to injury from slips, trips or falls on council property or property maintained by the local authority in each of those years.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Conferences

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many conferences were (a) attended by officials from his Office, (b) cancelled by and (c) facilitated by his Office in each year since 1997; and what the (i) cost to his Office and (ii) location was in each case.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council House Sales

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total income in capital receipts was from the sale of council housing under the right to buy in 200304, broken down by Government Office region.

Nick Raynsford: Figures for the estimated right-to-buy receipts (based on the selling price less discount) for 200304 by Government Office region are tabled as follows.
	
		
			  Right-to-buy receipts ( million) 
		
		
			 North East 189.7 
			 North West 271.7 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 298.5 
			 East Midlands 234.0 
			 West Midlands 279.8 
			 East 264.8 
			 London 1,060.9 
			 South East 297.4 
			 South West 128.0 
			 England 3,024.8

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the level of council tax receipts collected in each local authority was in each year since 1997, broken down by billing authority; and what the forecast receipts are for the next year;
	(2)  what the projected level of council tax receipts in England is for 200405; and whether this includes the adjustment for council tax benefit.

Nick Raynsford: The figures requested for the financial years 199697 to 200304 are available in the Library of the House. They exclude amounts funded by council tax benefit.
	Comparable figures for the amounts of council tax collected in 200405 will not be collected from local authorities until after the end of the financial year.
	Although the budgeted council tax requirement for 200405 (after capping) excluding budgeted expenditure on council tax benefit is known to be 17.552 billion, the amounts that will have been received during 200405 will also depend upon changes in the tax base during the year, the in-year collection rates achieved, and the amounts collected in respect of earlier years.

Council Tax

Anne Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in council tax imposed by Cambridge city council has been in each year since its inception.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is tabled as follows. The table also includes the council tax figures used in calculating each year's percentage increase.
	
		
			   Financial year  Own band D council tax (2 adults) () Percentage increase in own band D council tax 
		
		
			 199394 136.13  
			 199495 99.70 -26.8 
			 199596 110.00 10.3 
			 199697 112.33 2.1 
			 199798 112.33 0.0 
			 199899 115.14 2.5 
			 19992000 115.14 0.0 
			 200001 115.14 0.0 
			 200102 114.00 -1.0 
			 200203 116.62 2.3 
			 200304 126.59 8.5 
			 200405 131.65 4.0

Council Tax

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many pensioners' households he estimates will be affected by council tax reappraisal; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many households identified as living below the official poverty line he estimates will be affected by council tax reappraisal; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when his Department will announce band levels for council tax revaluations; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what his Department's estimate is of the number of households in each council tax band that will move up in band grading following revaluation;
	(5)  what his Department's estimate is of the number of pensioners whose council tax band rating will move up following revaluation; what discussions he has held with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding subsidies for such households; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on the criteria for selecting which households will fall within which band under council tax revaluation.
	(7)  what his Department's estimate is of the number of Band A households which will be rebanded under the revaluation procedures for council tax.

Nick Raynsford: The distribution of dwellings to bands after revaluation will depend on property values as at 1 April 2005 and on decisions yet to be taken on the number and values of council tax bands. The report of the independent inquiry into local government funding by Sir Michael Lyons will inform the Government's decisions on council tax bands. This report is due to be submitted by the end of this year to my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government have already made clear that the revaluation should not lead to a change in the overall council tax yield. There will be a transitional relief scheme to help taxpayers whose properties move to a higher band. Council tax benefit will continue to be available to help those on low incomes with their council tax payments.

Council Tax

John Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households there are in each council tax band; what his Department's estimate is of how many will fall into each band after revaluation; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The latest information on the estimated number of households in each council tax band in England is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of households (thousand) (200304) 
		
		
			 Band A (up to 40,000 at 1 April 1991 values) 4,494 
			 Band B (over 40,000 and up to 52,000) 3,704 
			 Band C (over 52,000 and up to 68,000) 4,152 
			 Band D (over 68,000 and up to 88,000) 4,351 
			 Band E (over 88,000 and up to 120,000) 1,899 
			 Band F (over 120,000 and up to 160,000) 1,061 
			 Band G (over 160,000 and up to 320,000) 766 
			 Band H (over 320,000) 165 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Survey of English Housing
	The distribution of dwellings to bands after revaluation will depend on property values as at 1 April 2005 and on decisions yet to be taken on the number and values of council tax bands. The report of the independent inquiry into local government funding by Sir Michael Lyons which is due by the end of this year will inform the Government's decisions on council tax bands.

Departmental Equipment

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many items of electrical equipment were used by his Department in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) cost and (b) number of each type of item.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not retain the information requested centrally, and could provide it only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. Where possible it purchases electrical equipment through centrally negotiated contracts.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total external spending by his Department was on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The total external spending by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on Private Finance Initiative consultants was 260,274.04 in 2003 and 44,281.00 in 2004. Seven consultancy firms were used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister over this period.
	The additional information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department on (a) new furniture and (b) hired furniture in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. Where possible the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister purchases furniture through centrally negotiated contracts, always ensuring that the materials used accord with the Sustainable Development in Government initiative.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department spent on first class travel in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Office in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Since 1999, the Government publishes, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House. All travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
	All travel by staff is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties are held by the Office; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for 29 leasehold and freehold properties making up a total net Internal Area of 209,985 m2. This figure includes 20,212 m2 that is occupied by other Government Departments but does not include space that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister occupies in Other Government Departments' buildings. Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of ten Government Departments.
	There were no properties vacant as at 1st December 2004.

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many of the staff employed by his Department have a declared disability;
	(2)  how many women there are in senior positions in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. These include data on the number of women in senior positions in Departments and on the number of staff who have a declared disability.
	The latest available information at April 2004 is available in the Library of the House and on the civil service website at the following addresses.
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/gender_apr04_4nov04.xls
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/disability_apr04_4nov04.xls

Derbyshire Fire Authority

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding was made available to the Derbyshire fire authority in each of the last five years.

Nick Raynsford: For 200405, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) received 17.542 million in Formula Grant. For FRAs Formula Grant is equal to the sum of Redistributed Business Rates and Revenue Support Grant. Derbyshire FRA is a combined fire authority which gained major precepting status in 200405. Previously, funding was received from the constituent authorities of Derbyshire county council and Derby city council. Formula Grant for these constituent authorities included provision for education, personal social services, highways maintenance and environmental, protective and cultural services as well as fire services and capital expenditure. As there are no restrictions on local authority decisions to spend Formula Grant it is not possible to say how much Formula Grant was made available for Derbyshire FRA in these years. For the purposes of calculating the 200405 figure, an indicative amount was calculated to show what would have happened in 200304 if Derbyshire FRA had been a major preceptor at that time. This amount was calculated to be 16.706 million, however this is an indicative amount only.
	For 200405 Derbyshire FRA also received 0.456 million transitional funding in recognition that there may be a lag between costs and savings of fire and rescue service modernisation.
	For 200405 Derbyshire FRA received 0.875 million in Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue). It received 0.815 million basic credit approvals in 200304, 0.873 million in 200203, 0.727 million in 200102 and 0.727 million in 200001.
	In 200405 Derbyshire FRA received grants of 50,544 from the Community Fire Safety (CFS) Innovation Fund and 95,642 capital to establish a programme of Home Fire Risk Checks targeted on the most vulnerable households and combined with installation of free 10 year smoke alarms and, where justified, automated fire suppression systems. It also received 33,796 from the Arson Control Forum Innovation Fund in 200102.
	According to the provisional local government finance settlement for 200506 Derbyshire FRA will receive 18.520 million formula grant, a 5.6 per cent. increase on 200405, and 0.882 million SCE(R). It is also due to receive a further 50,544 from the CFS Innovation Fund and 95,642 capital grant for Home Fire Risk Checks.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Further e-mail guidance is available on the National Archives web site at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_e-mails.pdf.
	This policy is regularly reviewed to ensure that the amount of e-mail kept locally by staff remains within the e-mail system quota in force at the time to ensure efficient running of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's IT infrastructure.

Energy Efficiency

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many units of social housing are deemed not to meet thermal efficiency rating Standard Assessment Procedure 65, broken down by local authority area.

Keith Hill: In 2001, 2.9 million social sector dwellings had a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating of less than 65. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect this data by local authority area.

Ethnic Minorities

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the extent to which his Department's policies meet the needs of ethnic minorities.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made a commitment, in its Race Equality Scheme, to considering the impact of its policies and functions on ethnic minorities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Race Equality Scheme was published in May 2003 on our website, and highlights key activities where race is a consideration. The scheme was developed in consultation with staff across the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies and with external stakeholders, including the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). To date there have been two reviews of the scheme. The first review is available on our website and in hard copy. The second is to be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's board shortly, together with an outline for the new scheme. Again, this will involve consultation with both internal and external stakeholders.
	Nine training seminars, developed in line with CRE guidance, have been rolled out to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's staff with responsibility for undertaking race impact assessments on policy.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to be actively involved in the development and implementation of the Home Office led Community Cohesion and Race Equality Strategy and with the Department of Work and Pensions led Ethnic Minority Employment Strategy with senior representation on the steering groups of each and a high level of official interaction.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also continue to work closely with CRE on race equality issues, a recent example being the production of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit ethnicity monitoring guidance for partnerships.

Fire Control Centres

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to begin construction of regional fire control centres;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the cost of building a new regional fire control centre in the South West;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the proposed site for the South West regional fire control centre.

Nick Raynsford: The buildings for the proposed new Fire and Rescue Service Regional Control Centres, including that for the South West, are currently being procured through a competitive tender process. The sites will not be known until the process is complete and developers have been chosen. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects this in the first quarter of 2005. Thereafter the chosen developers will be required to make appropriate arrangements for the construction of the control centres, on the sites they have put forward, to meet the project timescales and requirements. The developers will bear the costs of construction and will carry construction risk. The cost of the lease in each region will be known once the developer has been chosen.

Fire Control Centres

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be working in each regional fire control centre; and what equipment will be installed in each one.

Nick Raynsford: The number of staff to be employed in each Regional Control Centre (RCC) will vary regionally, reflecting different demand levels. The requirement for fall back also means that RCC network is being designed to include the capacity to operate under spate and extreme conditions, even if one or more of the centres were to be unavailable for any reason.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently procuring the control centre technology under the EU's negotiated procedure to provide modern, high quality technology including an integrated command and communications system, a mobilising and resource management system, GIS and gazetteer, and an automatic vehicle location system in each RCC. The most advanced brigades in the countryincluding Norfolk, London and Greater Manchesterhave formed the basis for a large number of our requirements. We are taking the best features of these and other systems and enhancing them to create a complete solution for the benefit of all fire and rescue services. The procurement will also provide networking equipment to connect together the RCCs, creating a national resilient network.

Fire Control Centres

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has given to brigades which will be required to relocate to the new regional fire control centres on costs which may be incurred from relocation.

Nick Raynsford: Fire and Rescue Authorities have been advised that net additional costs associated with the transition to regional control centres will be supported in line with new burdens principles. The 'new burdens' principle means that, where a central government department's policies or initiatives increase the cost, in any specific financial year, of providing local authority services, the Government will fund the additional expenditure, provided that the aggregate value of the burdens across all authorities in England is greater than 100,000.

Fire Control Rooms

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation has been undertaken of the technology to be used in emergency fire control rooms; and what its anticipated cost is per room.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is undertaking a major procurement under the EU's negotiated procedure to provide modern, high quality technology, including integrated command and communications systems mobilising and resource management system, Graphical Information Systems (GIS) and gazetteer, and an automatic vehicle location system, for each Regional Control Centres (RCC). The most advanced systems in existing fire and rescue control rooms have formed the basis for the requirements. We are taking the best features of these and other systems and putting them together to create a complete solution for the benefit of all fire and rescue services. Information on expected costs is included in the draft outline business case, available on the FiReControl website at http://www.firecontrol.odpm.gov.uk.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the inclusion of representatives of the fire service unions other than the Fire Brigade Union within the new negotiating machinery for pay and conditions within the fire service.

Nick Raynsford: It remains Government policy, as set out in the White Paper Our Fire and Rescue Service, that union participation in negotiating arrangements for the Fire and Rescue Service should be widened. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that voluntary reforms will achieve this and it is understood that negotiations about voluntary reform are continuing. However, the Government have taken reserve powers under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 which would enable them to set up new statutory arrangements if voluntary reforms do not result in improvement.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire control officers were employed on (a) 31 March and (b) 30 September by each of the English fire and rescue authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The following table shows the information requested.
	
		Staff in post on 31 March 2004 (all persons having a fire control rank)
		
			 Fire and rescue authorities Staff (full time equivalents) 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 25 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 31 
			 Essex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 44 
			 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority 24 
			 Norfolk Fire and Rescue Authority 26 
			 Suffolk Fire and Rescue Authority 23 
			 Derbyshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 29 
			 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 31 
			 Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Authority 24 
			 Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Authority 26 
			 Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority 25 
			 London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority 103 
			 Cleveland Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 25 
			 County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 28 
			 Northumberland Fire and Rescue Authority 20 
			 Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire and Civil Defence Authority 40 
			 Cheshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 27 
			 Cumbria Fire and Rescue Authority 19 
			 Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority 65 
			 Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 43 
			 Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority 58 
			 Royal Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 34 
			 Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 20 
			 East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 26 
			 Hampshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 38 
			 Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority 12 
			 Kent and Medway Towns Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 39 
			 Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority 22 
			 Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority 29 
			 West Sussex Fire and Rescue Authority 28 
			 Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 32 
			 Cornwall Fire and Rescue Authority 16 
			 Devon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 31 
			 Dorset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 23 
			 Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Authority 23 
			 Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority 19 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 22 
			 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 21 
			 Shropshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 16 
			 Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 33 
			 Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority 18 
			 West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority 65 
			 Humberside Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 28 
			 North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 22 
			 South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority 39 
			 West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority 51 
		
	
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Authority annual returns to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	No additional data are collected in year, and therefore the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have different figures for numbers of staff at 30 September.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether technology other than TETRA will allow direct voice communication between personnel from different services at the scene of an incident under the proposed Firelink Integrated Radio System for the fire services.

Nick Raynsford: Firelink is a wide-area radio system (covering communications between a control room and fire appliance). It does not replace the Fire and Rescue Services at-incident communications.

Highways Maintenance Budget

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget of each London local authority for road and pavement maintenance was in each of the last two years; and what the overspend or under spend of each was in each year.

Nick Raynsford: The following table shows for all London authority the budget for road and pavement maintenance for 200102 and 200203, and the amount by which this figure was over or under spent in each year.
	
		
			  200102 200203 
			  Budget Over/(under) spend Budget Over/(under) spend 
		
		
			 Greater London Authority 52,360 19,592 84,407 43,187 
			 City of London 7,679 (487) 6,965 27 
			 Camden 4,626 908 6,116 608 
			 Greenwich 4,974 494 6,168 (1,561) 
			 Hackney 2,538 4,962 10,431 (3,769) 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,734 (2,148) 2,972 (627) 
			 Islington 3,454 187 6,295 (2,289) 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,585 (462) 8,909 (14) 
			 Lambeth 2,308 (324) 3,954 (1,274) 
			 Lewisham 5,009 (821) 5,086 (734) 
			 Southwark 4,846 1,985 5,972 (415) 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,014 984 3,088 906 
			 Wandsworth 3,681 (1,711) 3,137 (12) 
			 Westminster 15,476 173 14,788 (1,193) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,718 757 4,436 937 
			 Barnet 10,944 346 11,690 1,037 
			 Bexley 5,897 555 6,122 944 
			 Brent 7,407 (1,393) 7,588 (1,607) 
			 Bromley 9,541 195 10,322 (102) 
			 Croydon 8,326 (5) 8,491 (3,065) 
			 Ealing 8,310 (394) 7,686 (2,121) 
			 Enfield 4,810 1,194 5,255 2,179 
			 Haringey 4,771 (402) 3,800 (2,479) 
			 Harrow 3,034 (252) 2,918 19 
			 Havering 5,414 1,114 4,662 2,159 
			 Hillingdon 6,547 (1,447) 5,417 60 
			 Hounslow 3,586 322 3,704 193 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,348 1,021 4,158 350 
			 Merton 5,271 (2,386) 5,602 (2,361) 
			 Newham 4,850 (376) 4,842 101 
			 Redbridge 4,929 (31) 4,974 (471) 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,471 255 3,191 782 
			 Sutton 4,509 (719) 4,204 (203) 
			 Waltham Forest 6,555 (1,160) 9,713 (4,108) 
		
	
	All figures are shown in 000s and the amounts are as reported by the local authority. The budget data are taken from the Revenue Account forms and the outturn data are taken from the Revenue Outturn forms for the respective years.

Homeless People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless people in Coventry sought help from Coventry city council in the last year for which figures are available; and how many homeless people are accommodated by Coventry city council.

Keith Hill: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. The total number of decisions made in respect of applications during 2004, and the number of homeless households in accommodation arranged by Coventry city council at the end of each quarter, is listed in the following table.
	
		Coventry city council
		
			  Decisions Households in accommodation(5507180046) arranged by local authorities, at end of the quarter 
			  made on homelessness applications(5507180045)  All households All households Of which: those with or expecting dependent children 
		
		
			 January-March 2004 551 16 5 
			 April-June 2004 451 17 11 
			 July-September 2004 401 6 3 
		
	
	(5507180045) Households applying for assistance in obtaining accommodation where the authority had reason to believe the applicant was homeless, or threatened with homelessness under legislation.
	(5507180046) Households in accommodation arranged by Coventry city council under homelessness legislation.
	Source:
	ODPM PIE homelessness returns (quarterly)
	In each quarter, bed and breakfast accommodation was predominantly used, with just two households in hostels.
	Coventry city council reported six persons who sleep roughthat is, those who are literally rooflessfollowing a single night's street count in March 2004.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	Some of the households in temporary accommodation were being accommodated pending completion of enquiries into their application, or awaiting the outcome of an local authority review/county court appeal against the authority's decision, or had been found intentionally homeless and subsequently were being accommodated for a reasonable period as permitted under legislation. The latest quarterly Statistical Release on statutory homelessness, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 13 December, presents analyses up to the end of the third quarter of 2004. Information on decisions, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level is contained in an associated Supplementary Table. These have been made available in the Library of the House, and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Homeless People

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what projections were made for (a) the Spending Review technical note to PSA 5, Indicator 3, published on 24 November and (b) Chapter 2 of the Departmental Performance Report published on 2 December on the number of statutorily homeless families with children living in temporary accommodation by 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Reducing homelessness is a key part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's strategy to achieve our PSA5 target, to balance housing markets in all the regions. Indicator 3 focuses on statutorily homeless families with children in temporary accommodation as a measure of acute housing need.
	Trajectories represent the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's assessment of the outcomes we aim to achieve over time through our policies and action to deliver them. They are based on a range of factors, any of which may change over time. We have been working to improve our methodology for projecting changes and the quality of the underlying data.
	The Departmental Performance Report covers the period up to November 2004. Projection (b) showed a reduction of 1,400 by 2006 compared with a trend-based projection (ie a projection of what would happen without policy intervention). It assumed that there would be no additional social housing units over those already agreed in SR02 and that the level of homelessness acceptances would level off until 200607 before declining due to homelessness prevention measures.
	The PSA5 Technical Note relates to the new departmental targets agreed as part of the Spending Review 2004 and will come into effect from 1 April 2005. Projection (a) showed a reduction of 7,400 by 2006 compared with a trend-based projection. It assumed that additional social housing units would be delivered in line with the SR04 settlement and that homelessness prevention measures would start to reduce acceptances straight away.

Homeless People

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he (a) has taken and (b) plans to introduce to protect homeless people from assault and wounding.

Keith Hill: The Government take the issue of violent crime and the impact it has on people's lives very seriously, this includes those who are homeless. That is why we have introduced a number of measures to tackle violent crime, including violence in the streets, and are continuing to do so.
	Examples of these measures include:
	Concerted action against street robbery achieving falls of 24 per cent. in the priority areas over the first two years of the Street Crime Initiative.
	Tackling low-level thuggery through measures to reduce alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour.
	A further campaign against alcohol misuse was launched on 17 December and will run until 3 January in 180 policing areas. This campaign will build on the lessons learned from the summer campaign and encourage police forces to use tailor-made good practice to deal with local problems.
	Tackling Violent Crime Programme(a programme to help local areas reduce violent crime and improve local partnership working, which was launched in November in six police force areas who are already delivering solutions to violent crime.
	The Government are also taking action against the use of knives and on 15 December, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) announced measures that included considering legislation to ban the sale of knives to under-18s.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware of the vulnerability of homeless people on the streets which is why we have focused our efforts to ensure that the number of those sleeping rough is reduced. Rough sleeping has been reduced by over 70 per cent. since 1998, and these reductions have been sustained. Rough sleeping is now at its lowest recorded level.

Homeless People

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the support services offered by his Department to help homeless people find housing;
	(2)  whether the Government plans to give extra funding for services to and support for homeless people;
	(3)  how his Department provides access to accommodation for homeless people;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the consistency of provision for the homeless across England.

Yvette Cooper: The Government is committed to tackling homelessness and has successfully tackled the worst manifestations of homelessnessrough sleeping and the long term use of B and B hotels for homeless families with children. We have invested 260 million over three years to 200506. This is helping local authorities and voluntary sector agencies to deliver front-line services and take forward initiatives to develop effective preventive measures.
	Other investments include 150 million revenue and capital funding to support local authorities implement their homelessness strategies and to take forward a new hostel improvement programme that will help to improve and re-design front-line services to help rough sleepers away from the streets; 1.716 billion for Supporting People for 200506, with a further 1.7 billion for 200607 and 1.7 billion for 200708 and an increase in the supply of new social housing by 50 per cent. by 2008 which together with support for homelessness prevention initiatives will turn around the growth in homelessness by 2008.
	The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works closely with local authorities and voluntary sector agencies (including housing associations), providing them with technical and financial support.
	In relation to accessing housing, local housing authorities have a statutory obligation to ensure that suitable accommodation is available for applicants who are eligible for assistance, have become homeless through no fault of their own, and who fall within a priority need group (this is the 'main homelessness duty'). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has strengthened the statutory protection available to people who become homeless through the Homelessness Act 2002 and widened the categories of vulnerable people in priority need, who authorities must help. In addition, under the 1996 Housing Act local authorities are required to give reasonable preference for certain groups of people when framing their allocations policy. This includes people who are homeless.
	Applicants who do not have priority need or who have made themselves homeless intentionally must be assisted by the local authority with any efforts they make to secure accommodation for themselves. Applicants can also seek advice from their local housing advice centre or Citizen's Advice Bureau.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funds the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS). NHAS has been supported by Government since it was established in 1990. It is a partnership between Shelter and Citizen's Advice (formerly NACAB) to ensure that everyone has access to good quality advice on homelessness and related issues through their local Citizens Advice Bureaumore recently this has also been extended to some independent advice centres.
	The Homelessness Act 2002 required every local authority to have a strategy in place by July 2003 to ensure that accommodation and support are available for homeless households and those at risk of homelessness.
	In November 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published an evaluation of 'Local Authorities' Homelessness Strategies'. It was carried out by Housing Quality Network Services (HQNS) between February and July 2004, on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The evaluation reports a positive response to the process of producing and adopting these reviews and strategies. The full report and the summary can be obtained via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=5500l=3

House Prices (Dagenham)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average house price is in Dagenham; and what it was (a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

Nick Raynsford: House price data at a local authority level are only available from 1996. The following table shows the average price in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham in the third quarter of 1996 (eight years ago), the third quarter of 1999 (five years ago) and the third quarter of 2004.
	
		
			 Period Average price () 
		
		
			 Q3 1996 52,279 
			 Q3 1999 69,831 
			 Q3 2004 (5507180047)169,239 
		
	
	(5507180047) Provisional.
	Source:
	HM Land Registry

Housing

Alan Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning powers local authorities have to restrict the conversion of family housing into houses in multiple occupation.

Keith Hill: The Town and Country (Use Classes) Order 1987 (the UCO) sets out classes of uses, changes within which do not require planning permission due to the similarity in their impact on local amenity, for example: traffic generation, noise, and visual appearance.
	The UCO classifies dwelling houses as a C3 use class. This includes dwelling houses used by a single person, any number of persons living as a family, or by no more than six people living together as a single household. Any change of use from this status would normally require planning permission.

Housing Stock Transfers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department keeps a recommended or reference list of finance groups in relation to finance for large-scale voluntary council house transfers.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not keep a list of recommended finance groups in relation to the financing of large-scale voluntary transfers of council housing stock.

Local Government Finance

Edward Leigh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what plans he has to take account within the formula grants system the rapid growth in population experienced by some local authorities;
	(2)  if he will end the limits on the gains in formula grant that authorities are entitled to formula changes made in 200304; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: In announcing the provisional Local Government Settlement for 200506 on 2 December 2004, Official Report, column 805, it was made clear the Government's decision to abolish the ceilings which had previously limited the maximum amount of grant which could be paid to certain authorities.
	The Government will continue to provide a guaranteed minimum percentage increase in grant to all authorities. This floor increase must be paid for within the total amount of grant available for authorities each year; authorities with increases above the floor will have those increases scaled back by a fixed percentage.
	The consultation paper 'Three-year Revenue and Capital Settlements' published on 15 December seeks views on whether population projections should be used in calculating grant allocations, hence making the grant allocations more forward looking.

Local Government Finance

Edward Leigh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he will use current population figures in the formula grant calculations made by his Department for the support of local authority services; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The provisional 200506 formula grant calculations use the mid-2003 population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics on 9 September 2004. These are the latest population estimates available.

Local Government Finance

Edward Leigh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a local income tax as an assigned revenue; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have appointed Sir Michael Lyons to conduct an independent inquiry into the funding of local government in England, and to report by the end of 2005. The inquiry will consider, in the light of the report by the Balance of Funding review, the detailed case for changes to the present system of local government funding, and make recommendations on any changes that are necessary and how to implement them. As well as making recommendations on how best to reform council tax it will conduct a through analysis of options other than council tax for local authorities to raise supplementary revenue, including local income tax, the reform of non-domestic rates and other possible local taxes and charges, as well as the possible combination of such options.

Local Government Finance

Edward Leigh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the area cost adjustment; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans for a review of the area cost adjustment (ACA) at this stage. The current arrangements introduced in 200304, are generally recognised as a considerable improvement on previous ones. They calculate the ACA at a much finer geography than before, with the ACA for each area reflecting local wage and rates costs.
	Following the three year formula freeze, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be considering, together with representatives of local government, what are the priority issues for any review of the formula.

Mapping Services Agreement

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date the Mapping Services Agreement was due for completion; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Mapping Service Agreement is a public procurement exercise and is a matter for local government and those organisations that bid for the Mapping Service Agreement contracts.

Mobile Phone Masts

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will issue new planning guidance to require planning authorities to take greater account of the health effects of radiation from mobile telephones when reaching decisions on such masts.

Keith Hill: On 12 November the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in the case of the First Secretary of State v T Mobile (UK) Limited and others. The Court of Appeal gave consideration to the policy guidance in PPG8. Taking into account that advice, the Court found the First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's policy to mean that in cases where an ICNIRP certificate exists, only in exceptional circumstances would it be legitimate for a local planning authority to take public fears about health risks into account. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister needs to carefully review the transcript of the judgment before deciding what action might be needed in light of it.

MOD Land

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1119W, on MOD land, if he will place a copy of the framework agreement in the Library.

Keith Hill: A copy of the framework document was placed in the Library of the House following the announcement of the agreement by my hon. Friend the Member for Hove on 11 November 2004, Official Report, column 31WS.

MOD Land

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1119W, on MOD land, how English Partnerships will fund their role under the Sustainable Communities Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: English Partnerships will fund its role under the Sustainable Communities plan in the normal way, through a combination of grant-in-aid provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and receipts from other business activities. The spending review 2004 provided English Partnerships with about 1 billion of resource allocation for the three years April 2005 to March 2008.

Mott MacDonald Report

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the Mott MacDonald report.

Nick Raynsford: The Government response to the Mott MacDonald report was sent to Chairs of Fire and Rescue Authorities on 11 December 2003 in the form of a consultation paper. Following consideration of the generally positive responses, I made a written statement to the House on 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 86WS, confirming the way forward. A copy of a response of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the issues raised in the consultation paper was made available in the Libraries of the House.

Older People (Rural Areas)

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to identify and spread good practice by local government in providing services for older people, with particular reference to those living in rural areas.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other departments, such as the Department for Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are currently working with local government, the Local Government Association (LGA), the Improvement and Development Agency, Better Government for Older People and other organisations to ensure best practice in local authorities is identified and spread.
	For example, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other departments are supporting the LGA's 'Action Learning Sets' programme which is designed to help local authorities, including many rural authorities, to work with each other to share good practice and improve services.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also organises the beacon council scheme which recognises authorities that demonstrate excellence around specific themes and helps them disseminate their good practice. Last year, Stroud district council jointly with Cotswolds district council were awarded beacon status for their services for older people, in recognition of their work to support independent living. Over 100 authorities attended learning events to learn from the best practice of the five beacon authorities under the theme of services for older people.

Part P Schemes

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce third party certification for Part P schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Installers registered with authorised competent person schemes for Part P of the Building Regulations are allowed to self-certify that the work they have carried out complies with all relevant requirements of the regulations. There are no plans to introduce third party certification of work into such schemes.

Part P Schemes

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the inspectorate is in place to carry out inspections under the Part P schemes (electrical safety in dwellings); and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Each competent person self-certification scheme operator is required to have an adequate inspectorate to assess the competence of applicants to the scheme and then to monitor a random selection of completed work to ensure it complies with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

Part P Schemes

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the implementation of Part P schemes of the building regulations; and how the system will be introduced.

Phil Hope: Five competent person self-certification schemes for Part P of the Building Regulations were formally authorised in July 2004 and a further six in December 2004. All are now accepting and processing applications for membership of the schemes.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many press officers are employed in his Department.

Yvette Cooper: As at 1 April 2004 there were 23 press officers employed in the Directorate of Communication for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Regional Government

Alan Williams: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to hold another referendum on establishing a regional assembly for the north east.

Nick Raynsford: None. Section 6 of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 states that no further referendum can be ordered in the region until the end of the period of seven years starting with the day on which the referendum was held.

Regional Government (Publications)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annualised total cost to the Government office for the south east of producing the publication Go South East was in the latest year for which figures are available; and what the annualised total cost to public funds is of all equivalent publications by Government offices of the regions.

Phil Hope: The total cost to the Government office for the south east for producing Go South East is 26,983 for 2004. The total cost of all equivalent publications produced by the Government offices for the English regions is 86,869 for 2004.

Regional Housing/Regional Observatories (Funding)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government funding is being given to (a) Regional Housing Boards and (b) regional observatories in the current financial year.

Keith Hill: Regional Housing Boards do not have separate budgets; they are funded from existing Government Regional Office budgets and contributions from other Board members.
	Regional observatories are voluntary partnerships formed in the regions. Funding for their activities is provided by a variety of partners in each region. Central Government does not oversee their expenditure.

Document Shredding

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors underlie the increase in the rate of files shredded by his Department since January 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	Records are destroyed, in accordance with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's disposal policy, when they come to the end of their retention period and they are not required for permanent preservation. The number of files due for destruction in any given year varies. Files destroyed in the last year included a backlog that had developed in the previous two years due to machinery of government changes and the closure of the Hayes Records Repository.

Social Services Budget

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of changes in the way central government grants for local social service budgets are calculated on local authorities with a higher than average elderly population.

Nick Raynsford: There has been no change in the way we calculate the personal social services formulae spending shares (PSS FSS) in 200506. FSS is used to distribute formula grant to councils. The older peoples PSS FSS formulae directs extra resources to authorities with higher than average elderly populations in two ways. Firstly, the formulae allocates a basic amount per person aged 65 or over in each local council area. Secondly, through its age top up, the formulae allocates extra resources to areas with higher proportions of very old people.
	There have been changes in the amounts distributed through two Department of Health specific grants, namely those for Preserved Rights and for Residential Allowances. We have listened to local authority concerns about the effect of transferring the majority of the Preserved Rights grant into FSS, originally announced as part of the SR2002 settlement. In co-operation with local authorities, we have agreed an alternative funding mechanism that minimises any adverse distributional impact, and which is based on the premise that a lower proportion of the Preserved Rights Grant will be transferred into the FSS.
	In 200506 the Preserved Rights Grant will be funded at 348 million instead of the 133 million announced in SR2002. The Residential Allowance grant will transfer into FSS more quickly. The method of allocating the Preserved Rights and Residential Allowance Grants to local authorities in 200506 is unchanged. This will mean less turbulence for local authority funding. We have made corresponding adjustments to the base for allocations to councils of formula grant in 200506.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints were made by departmental civil servants regarding the conduct of special advisers between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West on 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 946W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 his special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 November 2003, Official Report, column 163W.
	All travel by special advisers is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code

Stock Options Appraisal

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have held regarding the Stock Options Appraisal in (i) Bedfordshire, (ii) Hertfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Suffolk and (vi) Norfolk with hon. Members representing constituencies in these areas.

Keith Hill: I met with my hon. Friends the Members for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) and Harlow (Mr. Rammell), to discuss, among other things, Stock Options Appraisal, in December 2003. There have been no meetings between officials and hon. Members representing constituencies in these areas to discuss Stock Options Appraisal.

Swale Local Plan

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the numbers of additional (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) firefighters, (d) police, (e) teachers and (f) other public sector workers that will be required following the building of the additional homes in Swale's local plan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been carried out of the requirement for additional (a) water, (b) electricity and (c) other infrastructure that will be required for the new homes to be built in Swale under the local plan; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much money has been allocated for the infrastructure plan for Swale's local plan;
	(4)  when the infrastructure plan to accompany the new houses to be built for Swale's local plan will be announced.

Keith Hill: The Second Deposit Draft Swale Local Plan Review is expected in July 2005. Following the statutory consultation period, a local public inquiry will be held into any objections received on the plan. The public local inquiry is likely to take place in the first half of 2006.
	The extent and cost of additional service provision and infrastructure required to meet the provisions of the plan, can only be established by the authorities responsible for service and infrastructure provision, who need to work closely with the local planning authority during the plan preparation process. Once the plan is finalized and the extent and distribution of additional development is determined, the requirements feed into infrastructure and service plans and budgets. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister cannot therefore put meaningful figures and dates on these requirements at this time.
	I can, however, assure the hon. Member that it is the policy of this Government to ensure that future development is plan led and as such is served by services and infrastructure.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Asbestos

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 14 December to Question reference 204664, which of the secondary schools identified in each Education and Library Board area as having asbestos have (a) white and (b) blue asbestos;
	(2)  which primary schools in each education and library board area identified as having asbestos have (a) white asbestos and (b) blue asbestos.

Barry Gardiner: I will write to the hon. Lady as soon as possible.

Audiology

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of individuals awaiting provision of digital hearing aids in the Province.

Angela Smith: The information requested is currently not available.

Autumn Performance Report

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much it cost to (a) produce and (b) distribute the Northern Ireland Office Autumn Performance Report 2004; and how many copies were distributed.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office 2004 Autumn Performance Report was printed by The Stationery Office (TSO). Costs of printing and publication are met directly by TSO and do not fall to Government. The NIO is invoiced only for the 190 copies it requested. An additional cost was incurred this year on design and artwork on the report prior to printing. Overall the cost to the NIO of producing the Autumn Performance Report 2004 was slightly over 5,000.
	To date the NIO has distributed around 160 copies to a range of Government agencies and public representatives, including the Northern Ireland Members of Parliament, HM Treasury and Northern Ireland Select Committees. Distribution is almost entirely carried out by the government messenger service: details of the cost would be disproportionately expensive to obtain, but it is believed to be minimal. The Stationery Office has its own distribution arrangements.

Clinical Negligence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much he expects to be required for the settlement of clinical negligence claims in the Province over the next three years.

Angela Smith: The information requested in respect of the next three years is not available.
	However, the amount required within the next five years is currently estimated at 88.5 million.This figure represents the expected timing of payments over the next five years to settle clinical negligence claims outstanding in the HSS Boards and Trusts as at 31 March 2004.

Death Statistics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people died in the Province in each of the last 10 years as a result of being cold.

Ian Pearson: Numbers of cold-related deaths are not available, as cold is not recorded as a cause of death in itself. For the period 1994 to 2003 the annual number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate is presented in the following table.
	
		Number of deaths registered with a mention of hypothermia(5507180048), Northern Ireland, 1994 to 2003
		
			  Deaths with hypothermia mentioned 
		
		
			 1994 21 
			 1995 14 
			 1996 16 
			 1997 22 
			 1998 22 
			 1999 12 
			 2000 12 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 14 
			 2003 8 
		
	
	(5507180048) Deaths with a mention of hypothermia defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 991.6 for the years 1994 to 2000 and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68.

Departmental Credit Cards

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many credit cards for official expenditure are held by his Department.

Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office holds one Government Procurement Card (GPC) which is a form of corporate credit card used for low value purchases.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the running costs of the Department were in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) electricity, (b) water, (c) gas, (d) telephones, (e) mobile telephones and (f) televisions.

Paul Murphy: The running costs of the Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) electricity, (b) water, (c) gas, (d) telephones and (e) mobile telephones are provided in the following table.
	We are unable to provide the running costs for (f) televisions as they are captured under the general cost codes audio visual equipment and office equipment. It would be difficult to determine which costs related to televisions only.
	
		
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405(5507180049) 
		
		
			 Electricity 400,073 347,847 401,757 321,005 348,443 386,868 408,424 267,282 
			 Water 3,048 2,940 4,779 5,053 3,823 5,166 2,818 2,140 
			 Gas 4,909 4,714 4,542 3,242 24,752 37,712 49,469 29,623 
			 Telephones 383,867 396,681 531,362 462,080 436,438 751,560 846,335 567,950 
			 Mobile telephones 87,591 105,293 94,346 96,782 25,869 40,872 48,607 38,322 
			 Total 879,488 857,475 1,036,786 888,161 839,325 1,222,178 1,355,654 905,317 
		
	
	(5507180049) Up to December 2004

Departmental Properties

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many properties are held by the Department; what total floor space these properties provide; how many properties are vacant; and how much floor space vacant properties comprise.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Office currently holds 80 properties, of these 14 are vacant and on the market for sale. The total floor space can be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the staff employed by his Department have a declared disability.

Ian Pearson: Of the 11,051 staff in the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office who have provided information on their disability status, the number who declared they had a disability, at 1 April 2004, was 552 (5 per cent.).

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women there are in senior positions in his Department.

Ian Pearson: Of the 226 staff in senior positions in the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office at 1 April 2004, 53 were females.

Disabled Children

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent in the Province on (a) time out and (b) other services for families of disabled children in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Documents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office continue to implement well established policies and procedures for the storage, review and disposal of documents in accordance with their administrative needs, and also with the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 and the Public Records Act 1958 respectively. There has been no review of such policies and procedures within the past 12 months.

Electronic Devices

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type.

Ian Pearson: A record is not kept of all the electronic devices used by the Northern Ireland Office. The information requested therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Ian Pearson: The policy across Northern Ireland Departments is to print and file any e-mails that form part of the official record. Retention and deletion of e-mails in their printed format is managed in accordance with the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 and guidelines contained in the Northern Ireland Records Management Standard (NIRMS) 2001. Retention and deletion of e-mails in their electronic form is covered by departmental housekeeping policies and procedures. There has not been any major review of these in the past 12 months.
	The Northern Ireland Office has an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) in place and saving of records to the system is in line with guidelines set out in its Information Management Policy. All e-mails in relation to making policy and information needed for business reasons are saved in the EDRMS and retained for as long as stated in retention schedules.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Ian Pearson: The policy across Northern Ireland Departments is to print and file any e-mails that form part of the official record. Retention and deletion of e-mails in their printed format is managed in accordance with the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 and guidelines contained in the Northern Ireland Records Management Standard (NIRMS) 2001. Retention and deletion of e-mails in their electronic form is covered by departmental housekeeping policies and procedures that do not differentiate between the periods prior and post 1 January 2005. No specific instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.
	The Northern Ireland Office has an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) in place and saving of records to the system is in line with guidelines set out in its Information Management Policy. All e-mails in relation to making policy and information needed for business reasons are saved in the EDRMS and retained for as long as stated in retention schedules.

Energy Efficiency

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of (a) fuel cost reduction and (b) income maximization in energy efficiency.

Barry Gardiner: Energy efficiency is a key element of the Government's national Climate Change Programme and also offers opportunities to reduce energy costs through more sustainable consumption. Reducing energy costs through greater energy efficiency is a priority in order to enhance industrial competitiveness and alleviate fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.
	During 200304, 3.9 million raised through the Energy Efficiency Levy was invested in the domestic sector and captured around 17 million of potential customer lifetime savings. This is equivalent to 4.40 saved for every 1 invested.
	In the same period energy efficiency audits completed within the industrial and commercial sector identified the potential for 28 million of investment in energy efficiency to secure around 190 million of lifetime savings. The Carbon Trust is continuing to work with businesses in Northern Ireland to leverage the required investment which will help significantly reduce their fuel costs. The trust has been given an additional 1.6 million this year to increase activity in this important area.
	Other organisations including the Energy Saving Trust and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive continue to promote and encourage energy saving measures across the public and domestic sectors.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department were employed to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Ian Pearson: It is not possible to identify precisely the number of officials who deal with Freedom of Information issues, since it is potentially part of every civil servant's role to respond to Freedom of Information requests. However, one of the primary support functions of Information Management staff is to deal with these issues, plus Data Protection and Records Management. The number of such staff currently employed is cited in the following table. Numbers have varied little since 2001.
	
		
			 Department Information management (including FOI) staff 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland Office 5 
			 Environment 3 
			 Regional Development 6 
			 Culture, Arts and Leisure 8 
			 Education 4 
			 Social Development 3 
			 Employment and Learning 4 
			 Finance and Personnel 2 
			 Agriculture and Rural Development 12 
			 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 5 
			 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 4 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy  First Minister (OFMDFM) 3 
			 OFMDFM (Central FOI Team) 3

Fuel Poverty

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of (a) introducing legislative targets for eradicating fuel poverty in the Province, (b) establishing a ministerial task force to tackle fuel poverty and winter deaths and (c) extending the warm homes scheme to benefit a greater number of pensioners.

John Spellar: The document Ending Fuel Poverty: A Strategy for Northern Ireland sets out a target of eradicating fuel poverty in Northern Ireland in all vulnerable households and the social rented sector by 2010 and in non-vulnerable households by 2016. The commitment to achieving these targets is no less simply because they are not set in legislation, and this commitment is evidenced by their inclusion in public service agreements which are, and will continue to be, publicly monitored.
	The strategy provides for a ministerial group on fuel poverty but I believe that such an arrangement is better suited to a devolved administration. In the interim period of direct rule, I will draw together and chair an inter-departmental group of senior officials to take forward, monitor and review the implementation of the strategy.
	Government are determined to eradicate fuel poverty but recognise that budgets are finite and there are many competing priorities. It is vital, therefore, that the most vulnerable in our society are tackled first. To widen the eligibility criteria under the warm homes scheme would divert resources from those in greatest need. However, the qualifying criterion for the warm homes scheme has been revised to include the new tax credits and pension credit to ensure that as many vulnerable people as possible can benefit from the scheme.

Genito-Urinary Medicine

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of patients waiting for genito-urinary assessment in the Province; and what the average waiting time from referral is.

Angela Smith: Currently there are Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics at four sites in Northern Ireland, the Royal Victoria, Causeway, Daisy Hill and Altnagelvin hospitals. Information obtained from each of the hospitals is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Hospital name Number of patients awaiting assessment at 30 September 2004 Average waiting time for assessment (weeks) 
		
		
			 Royal Victoria hospital (5507180050)600 to 700 (5507180051)3 
			 Daisy Hill hospital 0 3 
			 Causeway hospital(5507180052) 0  
			 Altnagelvin Area hospital(5507180053) (5507180054) 6 
		
	
	(5507180050) Approximately.
	(5507180051) Non-urgent cases.
	(5507180052) The GUM clinic at Causeway hospital is a 'Walk-In' clinic, where patients attend by self-referral. Therefore a waiting list does not exist for this service.
	(5507180053) Altnagelvin Area hospital were unable to provide the number of patients waiting as it does not collect this data.
	(5507180054) Not available.
	Source:
	HPSS Trusts

GP Attendances

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of GP attendances per capita in Northern Ireland (a) in the most recent year for which figures are available and (b) (i) five, (ii) 10, (iii) 15 and (iv) 20 years previously.

Angela Smith: The information as requested is given in the table.
	
		General Practitioner consultations in NI per capita for selected years
		
			 Financial year Consultations per Capita 
		
		
			 200304 4.5 
			 199899 3.9 
			 199394 (5507180055) 
			 198889 2.4 
			 198384 (5507180056) 
		
	
	(5507180055) Data not available from the archived database for this year or for the years either side
	(5507180056) Comparable data not available due to different question wording on survey
	Source:
	NI Continuous Household Survey and Civilian Mid-year Estimate

GP Attendances

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the proportion of the population in the Province who did not attend their general practitioner in the last 12 months.

Angela Smith: No information is available centrally from GP systems on the aggregate number of persons who consulted their GP within a given period of time. However, using a public attitude survey commissioned by my Department, it has been possible to estimate that 24 per cent. of the Northern Ireland population did not have direct experience of using a GP in the last 12 months.

Health and Personal Social Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of health and personal social services spending in the Province staff salaries accounted for in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate the corresponding percentage for 200506.

Angela Smith: The information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Year ended 31 March Salaries and wages as a percentage of HPSS Spending(5507180057) 
		
		
			 1999 65.1 
			 2000 66.3 
			 2001 64.3 
			 2002 64.7 
			 2003 61.9 
		
	
	(5507180057) In order to make the figures comparable, expenditure prior to the year ended March 2003 incorporates the resources which were used by GP Fundholders to commission services.
	The corresponding percentage for 200506 has been estimated at 6065 per cent.

Health Service Building Programme

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the PPP/PFI health service building programmes in the Province.

Angela Smith: The following building programmes within Health and Public Social Services are funded by the Private Finance Initiative:
	
		
			 Commissioning body Project title 
		
		
			 Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust Car Parking 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust Renal Unit 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust Antrim Hospital Renal Unit 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital HSS Trust Service Centre (New Pathology pharmacy and changing rooms) 
		
	
	The following building programmes are being considered for funding by the Private Finance Initiative:
	
		
			 Commissioning body Project title 
		
		
			 Western Health and Social Services Board New build hospital 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust Antrim Hospital Project

Health Trusts

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints were received by each health trust in the Province during the year ended September 2004.

Angela Smith: The following table presents information on the total number of complaints received by each Health and Social Services Trust in the year ending September 2004. The Trusts are categorised according to whether they are hospital Trusts, community Trusts, mixed (hospital and community) Trusts, or other Trusts.
	
		Number of complaints received by each Health and Social Services Trust in the year ending September 2004, bycategory of Trust(5507180058)
		
			  Health and Social Services Trust Total number of complaints 
		
		
			 Belfast City hospital 181 
			 Green Park 188 
			 Mater Infirmorum 109 
			 Royal Group of hospitals 519 
			 United hospitals 294 
			 Craigavon Area Group 227 
			 Altnagelvin Group 208 
			 Hospital Trusts (Total) 1,726 
			   
			 North and West Belfast 108 
			 South and East Belfast 267 
			 Homefirst 316 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge 116 
			 Foyle 87 
			 Community Trusts (Total) 894 
			   
			 Down Lisburn 295 
			 Ulster Community and hospitals 362 
			 Causeway 494 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 72 
			 Newry and Mourne 144 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 61 
			 Mixed Trusts (Total) 1,428 
			   
			 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service 133 
			 Other Trusts (Total) 133 
			   
			 Northern Ireland Total 4,181 
		
	
	(5507180058) Data is provisional and may be subject to change.
	Note:
	Community Trusts may provide services in non-acute hospitals, as well as services outside hospital.

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of appointing someone to act as a champion for the homeless in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland has a single, comprehensive housing authority in the Housing Executive, which has a statutory duty to deal with homelessness. No need has so far been identified to appoint an individual to act as a champion for the homeless.
	The new agenda in the Housing Executive's homelessness strategy places a stronger emphasis on dealing with the personal and social causes of homelessness. In November 2004, a review group comprising representatives of Government Departments, statutory agencies and the voluntary sector supported by the Department for Social Development published a consultation paper entitled Promoting the Social Inclusion of Homeless People. The aim of the consultation is to identify ways in which Government and other agencies can work together to make their services accessible to people who are homeless or who are threatened with homelessness.

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homeless people there were in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

John Spellar: Over the last 10 financial years the numbers presenting to the Housing Executive as homeless, and those accepted, were as follows:
	
		
			  Number presented Number accepted 
		
		
			 200304 17,150 8,594 
			 200203 16,426 8,580 
			 200102 14,164 7,374 
			 200001 12,694 6,457 
			 19992000 10,997 5,192 
			 199899 11,552 4,997 
			 199798 12,672 4,956 
			 199697 11,092 4,708 
			 199596 10,768 4,319 
			 199495 10,068 4,014

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of homeless people in the Province are female lone parents.

John Spellar: The information cannot be provided in the format requested. However, the Housing Executive's records show that, during the period 200304, 3,118 of those accepted as homeless in Northern Ireland were single parent households (ie 36.28 per cent. of the total accepted as homeless). While a gender breakdown of those single parents is not readily available, it is known that all but a very few were female.

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in the Province are housed in temporary accommodation.

John Spellar: The following table shows the number of households in temporary accommodation at 30 November 2004. A household can contain one or more persons.
	
		
			 Accommodation type Number in accommodation 
		
		
			 NIHE hostels 211 
			 Voluntary sector hostels 455 
			 Private sector lettings 465 
			 House in multiple occupation 172 
			 Total 1,303

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for the loss by homeless people in the Province of their last settled home.

John Spellar: The following table shows the reasons for homelessness stated by those presenting as homeless in Northern Ireland during the 200304 financial year.
	
		
			 Reason for homelessness Number presenting Number accepted 
		
		
			 Sharing breakdown 4,080 1,781 
			 Marital breakdown 2,543 986 
			 Domestic violence 694 606 
			 Loss of rented accommodation 1,992 897 
			 No accommodation in NI 1,920 700 
			 Civil disturbance intimidation 1,190 685 
			 Accommodation not reasonable 1,783 1,438 
			 Release from institution 341 168 
			 Fire/flood/emergency 120 104 
			 Mortgage default 200 87 
			 Bomb/fire damage civil disturbance 55 33 
			 Neighbour harassment 1,442 885 
			 Other reasons 790 224 
			 Total 17,150 8,594

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rough sleepers there were in the Province in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of these were drug abusers.

John Spellar: Attempts in recent years to quantify the level of rough sleeping in Northern Ireland were inconclusive. However, a survey early this year indicated that, while there are between 20 and 30 frequent users of Housing Executive-funded outreach services, no more than 10 people are sleeping rough on any given night (all in Belfast). It has been established that the majority of rough sleepers have alcohol dependency problems and there is also evidence that misuse of drugs is increasing within this group.

Hospices

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of funding is being granted by the Government towards (a) capital costs and (b) recurrent costs in respect of (i) adult hospices and (ii) children's hospices in the current financial year.

Angela Smith: No recent requests for capital funding have been received from any hospice in Northern Ireland and no capital funding has been provided in the current financial year.
	In 200405 Health and Social Services Boards are providing recurrent funding of 3,678,635 for adult hospices. In addition, 520,609 is being provided non-recurrently. Boards are now meeting 50 per cent. of the costs of agreed in-patient services at adult hospices.
	There is no recurrent statutory funding for the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice as Health and Social Services Boards provide palliative care services for children in the community through the specialist paediatric nursing service. However, this year the Western Board has provided 15,870 (non-recurrent) to the Children's Hospice to fund a project which provides palliative care to life-limited children in their own home in the Western Board area.

Hospital-acquired Infection

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of reintroducing matrons to hospitals in the Province to oversee hygiene and hospital cleaning.

Angela Smith: When Modern Matrons were introduced in England it was noted that in Northern Ireland Nurses in Clinical Services Manager Posts covered the range of responsibilities identified for the Modern Matron.
	To ensure that concerns in relation to infection control issues are addressed locally, I have already announced the formation of a group to develop an Infection Control Strategy. The Strategy will examine key priority areas such as prevention, surveillance, control of MRS A and staff education and training.

Hyperactivity Disorder

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what specialist attention deficit hyperactivity disorder outpatient clinics there are in the Province.

Angela Smith: Children suspected of having ADHD are in the first instance referred to Child Development Clinics for diagnosis. Services for children with ADHD are provided by community paediatric clinics and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services. Only within the Western Health and Social Services Board are dedicated ADHD clinics in place.

Irish Language

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the March 2004 report of the Committee of Experts on the Implementation of the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, with particular reference to the recommendation that he recognise the necessity of public funding in order to maintain a newspaper in Irish in Northern Ireland; and what measures he is taking to support the Irish language daily newspaper.

Angela Smith: Following publication in March 2004 of the Council of Europe's first Report on the United Kingdom's compliance with its commitments under the European Charter, I issued a News Statement which welcomed the Report's findings and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to protecting both Irish and the Ulster-Scots languages, and to continue with the work already in hand.
	With regard to the two recommendations made by the Council's Committee of Experts, the Government are at an advanced stage of developing an Irish Language Broadcast Fund, and expect to issue revised and improved Charter Guidance to civil servants in Northern Ireland in the new year.
	L is currently the only daily Irish language newspaper in publication. It has been successful over the years in attracting significant public sector funding from a range of sources, principally, but not exclusively, from the Irish Language Agency, Foras na Gaeilge, which has the function of facilitating and encouraging the use of Irish in speech and writing. Decisions on applications from L for public sector funding have been and will continue to be fully assessed on their merits in the light of the terms and conditions of grant stipulated by the funding body.

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what spending per capita on mental health services in the Province was in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The requested information in relation to public spending is provided in the table as follows.
	
		Total Health and Social Services Board Expenditure per head of population on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland
		
			 Year ended March: NI total per head 
		
		
			 1999 62.2 
			 2000 66.0 
			 2001 72.3 
			 2002 76.4 
			 2003 82.5

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve access to health information and services in the Province for those with mental health difficulties.

Angela Smith: Access to physical and mental health information and services is identified as a fundamental issue in the draft consultation report A Strategic Framework For Adult Mental Health Services emanating from the Regional Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability. Recommendations include that the assessment of people with mental health needs must include assessment of physical health needs, establishing registers of people with severe mental health needs at primary care level, and local providers of service agreeing which service will take responsibility for monitoring physical health.

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on child and adolescent mental health services in the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The available information is detailed in the following table:
	
		Expenditure on child and adolescent psychiatry in hospital(5507180059)
		
			 Year ended 31 March 000 
		
		
			 1999 2,152 
			 2000 2,263 
			 2001 2,553 
			 2002 2,890 
			 2003 2,982 
		
	
	(5507180059) This summarises the annual expenditure on the consultant led child and adolescent psychiatry specialty in hospital. Expenditure on child and adolescent mental health services provided in a community and personal social services setting is not centrally available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

MRI Scans

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from independent providers of MRI scanning concerning the provision of additional scans on a not-for-profit basis; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has had preliminary discussions with one independent provider of MRI services to explore options for the provision of additional MRI scans to patients in Northern Ireland.

MRI Scans

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to collect more comprehensive statistics regarding the number of patients awaiting MRI scans in the Province.

Angela Smith: There is currently no regular information collection system in place to ascertain the number of people waiting for MRI scans. Officials will shortly be undertaking a review of the waiting list information collected by the Department. Waiting list information for MRI scans will be considered as part of this review.
	Officials will also be working closely with colleagues in Great Britain and will be taking account of the outcome of the Statistics Commission report Enhancing the Value of Health Statistics: User Perspectives.

National Lottery Funding

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much National Lottery funding has been spent on developing sport in (a) schools and (b) the community in Northern Ireland in each year since its introduction.

Angela Smith: The following table lists how much National Lottery funding has been spent on developing sport in (a) schools and (b) the community in each year since its introduction.
	
		
		
			 As at 1 April-31 March Schools Community 
		
		
			 199596  335,536 
			 199697 15,320 1,332,371 
			 199798  4,346,466 
			 199899 73,546 8,099,608 
			 19992000 3,523 7,224,823 
			 2000001 32,580 9,753,528 
			 200102 317,036 6,477,688 
			 200203 438,014 6,683,395 
			 200304 616,564 4,483,046 
			 2004-Dec 2004 1,589,362 4,742,078

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Ian Pearson: The question cannot be answered in its entirety as there is no central record held of newspapers and periodicals taken back to 1997 nor is it possible to separately identify the cost under each category except at disproportionate cost. List A lists Newspapers and periodicals taken in the current year and Table B itemises the cost of Newspapers and periodicals since 1997.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.
	Newspapers and Periodicals
	List A: Daily Newspapers
	Newsletter
	Daily Express
	Irish News
	Belfast Telegraph
	Daily Telegraph
	Daily Star
	Financial Times
	The Times
	The Guardian
	Daily Mail
	Irish Independent
	Irish Times
	The Independent
	The Sun
	Daily Mirror
	Sunday and Weekly Newspapers and Periodicals
	Ulster Star
	Sunday Times
	Sunday Independent
	Sunday Observer
	The Mail on Sunday
	Sunday Express
	Independent on Sunday
	Sunday Telegraph
	Sunday Mirror
	Ireland on Sunday
	Sunday World
	Sunday Life
	Sunday Tribune
	Western Mail
	Irish Post
	The Observer
	Evening Standard
	An Phoblacht
	Carrickfergus Advertiser
	Antrim Guardian
	Ulster Gazette
	Ballymena Guardian
	Dromore Leader
	Portadown Times
	Windows  Net
	Exchange  Outlook Administration
	Xchange Administrator
	Country Life
	Ulster Tatler
	Country Homes Interiors
	House  Gardens
	Irish Country Sports
	Facilities Management
	Economist
	Government Computing
	Computer Weekly
	Harvard Review
	Press Gazette
	New Statesman
	The Spectator
	Private Eye
	Computing
	Phoenix
	Fortnight
	Newtownards Chronicle
	Lurgan Mail
	Ulster Herald
	Lisburn Leader
	Newtownabbey Times
	Derry Journal
	Strabane Chronicle
	Computer Active
	Antrim Times
	Ballymena Times
	Coleraine Times
	Derry News
	Down Democrat
	Dungannon Observer
	Mid Ulster Observer
	Newtownards Spectator
	Co Down Outlook
	Ulster Gazette
	Radio Times
	Sunday People
	News of the World
	Sunday Business Post
	Time
	Andersonstown News
	Newry Democrat
	Ballymoney Times
	Banbridge Chronicle
	County Down Spectator
	Coleraine Chronicle
	Down Recorder
	East Belfast Observer
	Strabane Weekly
	Tyrone Courier
	Tyrone Constitution
	Tyrone Times
	Police Review
	Findings
	Audit commission Publication
	Fermanagh Herald
	Impartial Reporter
	Larne Times
	Mid Ulster Mail
	Mid Ulster Mail (South Derry)
	Newry Reporter
	Armagh Down Observer
	Ballymena Observer
	Derry Sentinel
	Derry People
	
		Table B: Costings for newspapers and publications
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 200304 78,033 
			 200203 78,278 
			 200102 68,505 
			 200001 54,384 
			 19992000 58,369 
			 199899 64,760 
			 199798 57,582

Nurse Endoscopists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the development of the role of the nurse endoscopist in the Province.

Angela Smith: The number of nurse endoscopists in Northern Ireland is relatively small. Where a Trust has identified the need to develop the role as part of their endoscopy service, support to undertake the relevant training outside of Northern Ireland has been provided. As the demand for endoscopy services increases, consideration will be given to the viability of establishing a local specialist practice course.
	One of the DHSSPS funded re-design of community nursing projects is currently exploring the primary and secondary care interface with a view to the primary care based stoma nurse undertaking training to become a nurse endoscopist.
	The recommendations arising from the Independent Review of Endoscopes and the DHSSPS Cancer Services Framework, which is currently under development, will also be explored in relation to the further development of the Nurse Endoscopist role.

Occuptational Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients (a) are awaiting and (b) have received in the last 12 months an initial occupational therapy assessment in each trust in the Province.

Angela Smith: The number of persons (a) who were awaiting an occupational therapy assessment at 30 September 2004 and (b) who received an initial assessment during the year ending 30 September 2004 are shown, for each Trust and according to priority and non-priority cases, in the following tables.
	
		(a) Number of persons waiting for assessment by community occupational therapists30 September 2004
		
			 Trust Priority cases Non-priority cases Total 
		
		
			 Down Lisburn 124 779 903 
			 North and West Belfast 225 1,222 1,447 
			 South and East Belfast 81 204 285 
			 Ulster 51 590 641 
			 Causeway 412 759 1,171 
			 Homefirst 746 1,177 1,923 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 24 354 378 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge 444 315 759 
			 Newry and Mourne 50 893 943 
			 Foyle 227 1,355 1,582 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 204 509 713 
			 Northern Ireland 2,588 8,157 10,745 
		
	
	
		(b) Number of persons receiving an initial assessment (occupational therapy assessments commenced)year ending 30 September 2004
		
			 Trust Priority cases Non-priority cases Total 
		
		
			 Down Lisburn 1,089 1,214 2,303 
			 North and West Belfast 2,104 1,409 3,513 
			 South and East Belfast 4,295 3,470 7,765 
			 Ulster 1,432 2,371 3,803 
			 Causeway 890 337 1,227 
			 Homefirst 4,202 3,701 7,903 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 1,300 811 2,111 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge 3,096 0 3,096 
			 Newry and Mourne 1,776 252 2,028 
			 Foyle 983 1,020 2,003 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 1,198 575 1,773 
			 Northern Ireland 22,365 15,160 37,525 
		
	
	Note:
	Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust currently carries out assessments only in respect of priority cases.

Paramilitary Organisations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Government have made of whether paramilitary organisations in the Province (a) have been and (b) are involved in the sale or distribution of counterfeit (i) bank notes, (ii) DVDs, (iii) CDs, (iv) computer games, (v) clothing, (vi) pharmaceuticals and (vii) perfume.

Ian Pearson: The Government's assessment of the involvement of individuals with paramilitary links in all areas of counterfeiting and piracy is based on a detailed strategic analysis of information, including seizures and investigations, provided by the partner agencies of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF).
	The latest assessment of the OCTF is that loyalist and republican paramilitary gangs carry out 80 per cent. of organised intellectual property crime in Northern Ireland and are equally heavily involved in the distribution of counterfeit currency.

Pay Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Ian Pearson: The question cannot be answered in its entirety because there is no central record held of the number of television subscriptions or amounts paid dating back to 1997.
	The number of television subscriptions is 26.
	
		Costings
		
			  
		
		
			 200102 4,171.05 
			 200203 5,440.22 
			 200304 7,826.87 
		
	
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what method is used by Police Service of Northern Ireland officers to quantify the time spent on investigating a particular case;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the way in which Police Service of Northern Ireland officers keep a record of time spent on a particular case during duty.

Ian Pearson: The Human Resource Department of the PSNI employ activity sampling as an element of a sophisticated Staff Allocation Model. During such activity sampling police officers supply detailed information, in a standard format, of their time spent on all aspects of their work. While this includes crime investigation, individual cases are not identified.
	Officers' duties are also recorded in their notebooks or journals.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have (a) completed and (b) dropped out from training as new police recruits in each year since the Police Service of Northern Ireland was established.

Ian Pearson: I am advised that the following numbers of students either completed, resigned or were dismissed from the training course:
	
		PSNI trainee constables
		
			  Number of students who completed training Number of students who resigned Number of students who were dismissed 
		
		
			 2001 (5507180060)0 1 0 
			 2002 377 6 2 
			 2003 410 8 7 
			 2004(5507180061) 507 16 2 
		
	
	(5507180060) Training commenced for PSNI trainee constables on 4 November 2001
	(5507180061) Up to 16 December 2004

Population Statistics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the population of Northern Ireland in (a) 2003 and (b) 1989.

Ian Pearson: The estimated usually resident population of Northern Ireland at mid-year 2003 was 1,702,600 people. The equivalent estimated figure at mid-year 1989 was 1,590,400 people.

Power Lines

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been received by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to disputes arising from landowners challenging permission given to Northern Ireland Electricity to erect overhead power lines since January 2002; how many formal hearings have been organised by DETI; and how many hearings have found in favour of the landowner.

Barry Gardiner: No complaints involving a formal challenge of any of the necessary wayleaves granted to Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) for the erection of overhead electric lines since January 2002 have been received by the Department.
	Seven wayleave hearings have been organised by the Department in response to such applications in the period. In all but one case, the Department decided, after careful consideration of the representations by the landowner and NIE, to grant the company a necessary wayleave. The remaining application was withdrawn by NIE, following the hearing, as agreement was reached between the company and the landowner on a voluntary wayleave.

Prescriptions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of prescription items per capita in Northern Ireland (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) (i) five, (ii) 10, (iii) 15 and (iv) 20 years previously.

Angela Smith: The information as requested is given in the table.
	
		Prescription items dispensed (5507180062) in NI per capita for selected years
		
			 Calendar year Items per capita 
		
		
			 2003 15.6 
			 1998 13.5 
			 1993 11.5 
			 1988 (5507180063) 9.5 
			 1983 (5507180063) 9.0 
		
	
	(5507180062) Excludes private prescriptions and those dispensed in a hospital setting
	(5507180063) Taken from clerical records
	Source:
	Central Services Agency and Civilian Mid-Year

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Paul Murphy: There are currently 15 press officers employed in the Northern Ireland Office.

PSA Levels

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent guidance has been issued on the management of patients in the Province with slightly elevated PSA levels.

Angela Smith: The Department has not issued guidance specifically on the management of patients with slightly elevated PSA levels. However CMO Update No. 25, which was issued to all GPs in November 2003, contained information about prostate cancer screening. This emphasised that anyone who requested a PSA test should be informed about the probable benefits and harm of the PSA test, and gave details of where to find information developed by the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme.
	Depending on the outcome of the test, the person's GP will advise them on what happens next. In the case of a raised PSA level, this may include further tests or referral to a specialist for investigation.

School Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the new funding arrangements for schools in Northern Ireland will affect in percentage terms each school in North Down constituency.

Barry Gardiner: Following the agreement of the Priorities and Budget 2004 on 20 December which set out the overall allocations for education, work is underway to determine the allocations that will issue, under Local Management of Schools common funding arrangements, to individual schools. Once this work is complete, I shall write to the hon. Lady with the details she has requested and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

School Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future funding arrangements for schools in Northern Ireland; and how many children he estimates will benefit from the new arrangements.

Barry Gardiner: Following consultation during the autumn, I have decided to proceed with arrangements to replace the existing seven Local Management of Schools (LMS) funding formulae with a single, common funding formula. This move will take effect from 1 April 2005 and reflects the commitment made by the Executive under devolution and will ensure that schools of similar size and characteristics are funded in the same way regardless of their geographical location.
	Work is continuing to finalise allocations to schools for 200506. Once this has been completed, I will make a fuller announcement outlining the changes that I have made to reflect the comments received during consultation and confirming the allocations that will issue to individual schools for 200506. I will also write to the hon. Member with the specific details she has requested and place a copy of my statement and this letter in the Library.

School Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to prevent (a) teachers and (b) support staff being made redundant as a result of the new funding arrangements for schools in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Under Local Management of Schools arrangements, decisions on the employment of teachers and support staff are for Boards of Governors to take in light of their particular circumstances including, in particular, the number of pupils at the school and their educational and social needs. My proposals for a common funding scheme for all schools are designed to ensure that schools with similar characteristics are funded consistently and equitably regardless of their geographical location. I expect that the majority of schools will see increases in their budgets as a result of the move from seven separate Local Management of Schools (LMS) funding schemes to the new common funding arrangements.
	However, I am concerned to ensure that the impact of any budget changes arising from the introduction of common funding is managed in a way that minimises disruption to both staff and pupils. That is why the move to common funding will be phased over a transitional period in order to allow schools sufficient time to adjust, particularly those schools which may see a decrease in funding

Social Housing

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much social housing was available in the Province on 1 January (a) 2004, (b) 1999, (c) 1994, (d) 1989 and (e) 1984.

John Spellar: The social stock details are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Housing stock 
		
		
			 31 March 2004 120,100 
			 1 January 1999 143,500 
			 1 January 1994 158,500 
			 1 January 1989 171,500 
			 1 January 1984 184,000 
		
	
	From 2002 stock totals have been held on a financial rather than a calendar year.

Special Advisers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many special advisers there are in the Department, broken down by Civil Service pay-grade.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Office currently employs two special advisers (this will reduce to one special adviser with effect from 24 January 2005) whose salaries are within the same range as our mainstream Grade A staff (equivalent to Grade 7).
	Their salaries are determined centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate (a) the sum spent to date on work associated with a proposed new acute hospital and new local hospital in the south-west of the Province and (b) the proportion of this total that has been provided through annual budgetary allocations to the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.

Angela Smith: The total expenditure by Sperrin Lakeland Trust on the work associated with the proposed new acute hospital and the new local hospital is 229,667 for the period to 31 October 2004.
	Sperrin Lakeland Trust does not plan to use normal service revenues to meet the cost of this project.

Sustainable Employment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average success rates have been for placing participants in sustainable employment in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months of the (a) New Deal and (b) work track programme.

Barry Gardiner: The success rates for placing participants in sustainable employment in Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 for (a) New Deal and (b) work track programmes are as follows:
	
		Participants moving into sustained employment(5507180064)(April 2003 to March 2004)
		
			 Programme Leavers Into sustained employment Percentage 
		
		
			 New Deal for18 to 24-year-olds 8,032 1,807 22 
			 New Deal 25 + 6,946 1,142 16 
			 Work track 2,337 370 16 
		
	
	(5507180064) Participants are considered to have sustained employment if they remain in the same spell of employment for 13 weeks or more

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004;
	(2)  how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by his Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Office does not have any 0870 telephone numbers.
	This answer relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not include information in respect of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Tuberculosis/Hepatitis C

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of (a) tuberculosis and (b) hepatitis C have been recorded in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The number of cases of (a) tuberculosis and (b) hepatitis C recorded in the Province in each of the last 10 years is detailed in the table.
	
		
			  (a) Tuberculosis (b) Hepatitis C 
		
		
			 2003(5507180065) 57 84 
			 2002 67 75 
			 2001 57 65 
			 2000 57 55 
			 1999 57 46 
			 1998 66 65 
			 1997 70 54 
			 1996 66 55 
			 1995 75 63 
			 1994 81 43 
		
	
	(5507180065) Figure for 2003 relating to tuberculosis is provisional.
	Source:
	Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

Tyrone County Hospital

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to increase recruitment of professional staff at Tyrone County Hospital.

Angela Smith: Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust is currently bringing forward plans for modernising service delivery through the implementation of Delivering Better Services. In keeping with this modernisation programme opportunities are being taken to create more attractive jobs for professional staff.
	The Trust continues to recruit locally and nationally and in addition has sought to recruit from the international market for nursing and medical staff.

Water Meters

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's policy is towards compulsory water metering in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: It is current policy to meter non-domestic customers and this will continue to be the preferred basis for charging this customer group. Water Service has an ongoing programme of work to extend the scope of metering throughout this sector, although this process will take time and charges for those non-domestic customers who are not yet metered will be based on rateable values. There are no proposals for compulsory water meters for domestic customers.

Works (Greysteel)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what works have been carried out under the auspices of the Department of Regional Development at Clooney Road, Greysteel, Co. Londonderry over the past two years; when these works commenced; and when they are scheduled to be completed.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Member in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 23 December 2004
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what works have been carried out in Clooney Road, Greysteel, Co. Londonderry over the past two years, when the works commenced and when they are scheduled to be completed. I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of the Water Service. The reply also contains information provided by Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Both Water and Roads Services have undertaken work on Clooney Road, Greysteel during the past two years. The work was co-ordinated closely to ensure that the road improvements, including resurfacing of the carriageway, followed immediately on completion of Water Service work and that disruption to the public was minimised. Liaison meetings were held with the local Community Association which welcomed both the investment by Water Service in the area and the introduction of the traffic calming scheme. The Community Association was also appreciative of the efforts made to co-ordinate the work of both agencies and to minimise disruption.
	I have detailed below the schemes involved together with their commencement and completion dates.
	Water Service
	Water Service has commenced extensive works over the past two years, totalling over 2 million, to improve and extend the water and sewerage infrastructure in the vicinity of Greysteel including :-
	Gortgare Wastewater Treatment Works
	Replacement of the existing Gortgare Wastewater Treatment Works serving Grey steel. Work commenced in February 2004 and is scheduled for completion next month.
	Greysteel Storm  Foul Sewers
	Upgrade of sewers and watermains in Clooney Road. Work commenced in October 2003 and was completed during October 2004.
	Faughanvale Sewerage Scheme
	Provision of first time services to properties on Dunlade Road, Greysteel and the upgrade of an existing sewage pumping station on Clooney Road. Work commenced during August 2003 and is scheduled for completion during March 2005.
	Foyle Avenue Foul Sewer  Sewage Pumping Station
	Provision of first time services to properties on Foyle Avenue, Greysteel including a new sewage pumping station. Work commenced during January 2003 and was completed during October 2004.
	Roads Service
	Roads Service is currently installing traffic calming measures and carriageway improvements on Clooney Road at a cost of approximately 400,000. Work commenced on 6 October 2004 and is scheduled for completion by the end of March 2005. Work will include the provision of the following features:
	shared use paths on both sides of Clooney Road along the length of the scheme;
	service lay-bys;
	dedicated bus lay-bys;
	a toucan crossing;
	additional traffic islands and refuges with central hatching;
	new gateway treatment, including signs and coloured surfacing;
	upgraded street lighting; and
	resurfacing of the carriageway.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Coroners Courts

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of coroners courts.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 30 November 2004
	Our Position Paper Reforming the Coroner and Death Certification Service was published in March 2004. This set out our plans for the comprehensive reform of the arrangements for the investigation and certification of deaths. The Paper indicated that we would issue a more detailed White Paper within a year and we remain committed to doing so.

Preparing for Emergencies

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Preparing for Emergencies leaflets were (a) printed and (b) distributed.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 5960W.

2 Marsham Street

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public expenditure has been allocated for external consultants in relation to the 2 Marsham street private finance initiative.

Charles Clarke: As noted in the National Audit Report PFI The New Headquarters for the Home Office (HC954 Session 20022003 15 July 2003) 8 million was spent on consultants for the procurement phase. Since then approximately 7 million will have been spent on providing professional support for developing the project and monitoring its construction and successful commissioning in the three years up to occupation.

2 Marsham Street

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated expenditure on chairs in the new Home Office buildings in 2 Marsham Street is.

Charles Clarke: The contract with Anne's Gate Property plc included the selection and provision of task chairs by the developer. It required that the chairs would:
	be well designed and of good construction quality;
	offer comfort and efficiency for staff; and
	be sourced from suppliers that demonstrate environmental standards and sustainable use of resources.
	From a short list of seven, the award winning Herman Miller Mirra model was chosen in a two stage process after consultation with the Department including the staff User Group.
	The price paid by the developer to the supplier is confidential under the terms of the agreement between them. It took account of the extended warranty period and long-term maintenance costs. The developer decided that for the price paid the Mirra chairs represented the best value for money to deliver their commitment, at their cost risk, to provide and maintain office furniture for the 26 year operating period of the PFI contract.

2 Marsham Street

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to public funds was of the demolition of the former Department of the Environment buildings in 2 Marsham Street.

Charles Clarke: The demolition of the former Department of the Environment buildings, including the wartime bunkers, was an integral part of the private finance deal with Anne's Gate Property plc (AGP), who took the cost and programme risk. It was believed at the time to be the largest city centre demolition in Europe. The indicative cost of the demolition provided by AGP was approximately 18.8 million (March 2002 prices) but the actual cost incurred by them is commercially confidential.

2 Marsham Street

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the contract period is of the agreement with Anne's Gate Property plc for the redevelopment on the site of the former Department of Environment offices at Marsham street; what the estimated yearly payment from public funds to Anne's Gate Property plc is for the duration of the contract; and what the net present cost of the contract is at current prices.

Charles Clarke: The contract with Anne's Gate Property plc (AGP) for the re-development and operation of 2 Marsham street runs from 26 March 2002 to 2 April 2031, a period of 29 years. Payment will commence when the Home Office takes possession of the building which is planned for 26 January 2005.
	The first estimated full-yearly payment to AGP is at the rate of 32.3 million provided full operational performance is delivered. This payment will be at a reduced rate until the building is fully occupied. It excludes costs of on demand services such as reprographics and official hospitality. The payment increases annually at about 76 per cent. of the rate of inflation. The annual charge was noted by the NAO Report (PFI the New Headquarters for the Home OfficeHC954 Session 20022003 15 July 2003), to be, if anything, a better deal then would have been secured through commercial rent and procurement of service.
	The net present cost of the contract was modelled at 311 million at financial close in March 2002. This has not been remodelled to take account of the various changes since then including the revised Treasury guidance on such calculations.

Air/Sea Ports

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) airports and (b) seaports are manned 24 hours a day by (i) full-time immigration officials and (ii) full-time special branch officers.

Des Browne: The following ports are staffed by immigration officials 24 hours a day:
	Airports
	Birmingham
	Bristol
	East Midlands
	Gatwick
	Glasgow
	Heathrow
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Stansted
	Seaports
	Harwich
	Portsmouth
	Juxtaposed Controls
	Calais Ferryport
	Coquelles
	Dunkerque
	Other ports of entry are staffed to cover all services requiring immigration control. Small air and seaports are staffed on a targeted basis dependant upon the assessment of risk of passenger traffic arriving.
	The deployment of Special Branch (SB) officers at seaports and airports is a matter for individual Chief Constables. Deployment will be based on a strategic assessment of each port, which will take into consideration the scale of passenger and freight movements, the routes served by the port, and the impact on counter terrorism, national security and serious organised crime. In some areas, principally at smaller ports, SB officers are deployed through a risk-based tasking and co-ordination process. At major ports there are significant permanent deployments.

Airguns

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal injuries were caused by the use of an airgun in (a) the UK, (b) the North East and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The latest available information is for 200203 and relates to England and Wales. Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	There were 2,377 offences in England and Wales where injury was caused by an air weapon. There were 84 offences involving injury in the North East region. Figures for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland are not collected centrally.

Off-licence Alcohol Sales

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for off-licence alcohol sales to people (a) already under the influence of alcohol and (b) under the age of 18 years in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office Court Proceedings database gives the number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales, 1994 to 2003, for the offences of: Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises (including wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18) and permitting drunkenness or riotous conduct on the premise, or selling liquor to a drunken person.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against for certain offences relating to the sale of alcohol(5507180066), England and Wales 1994 to 2003
		
			 Offence description Statute Year Proceeded against 
		
		
			 Permitting drunkenness or riotous conduct on Licensing Act 1964, Sec 172;Licensing Act (Occasional 1994 14 
			 the premises or selling liquor to a drunken person Permissions)Act 1983, Sec 3 (Sch para 6) 1995 19 
			   1996 8 
			   1997 9 
			   1998 22 
			   1999 13 
			   2000 10 
			   2001 10 
			   2002 7 
			   2003 8 
			 Selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Secs 169 AB; Licensing (Occasional 1994 138 
			 for consumption on the premises(5507180067) Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1) 1995 198 
			   1996 251 
			   1997 215 
			   1998 311 
			   1999 205 
			   2000 132 
			   2001 158 
			   2002 170 
			   2003 616 
		
	
	(5507180066) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(5507180067) Includes wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18.

Animal Experiments (Testing)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what notification he has received regarding the funding of experimentation on primates in the UK by the US Air Force.

Caroline Flint: I am not aware of any projectslicensed or proposed to be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures)Act 1986for which funding has been obtained from the US Air Force.
	Financial viability is only one of many factors taken into account when licensing decisions are taken under the 1986 Act, and the source of funding is not itself a prime consideration. Disclosure of that information by applicants is not an explicit requirement, and it is not necessarily known or recorded by the Home Office in particular cases. Data about the known funding sources is not held centrally.

Animal Experiments (Testing)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what research has been carried out into the cost to benefit ratio of experimental animal testing for the purposes of household products;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to restrict the most severe forms of experimental animal testing for the purpose of household products;
	(3)  what requirements are placed by his Department on UK companies to justify the experimental testing of animals for the purposes of household products;
	(4)  what action is being taken to limit the number of experimental animal tests carried out for the purposes of developing household products;
	(5)  how many experimental toxicity tests on animals have been carried out in the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The use of animals to test household products is to ensure environmental, workforce and consumer safety. This is one of the purposes for which such use may be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and is to meet the requirements of national and international regulatory bodies.
	Justification and assessments of applications for licences to undertake such work are on a case-by case basis. Each application has to be approved locally by an ethical review process before being submitted to the Home Office for decision, the whole process being designed to ensure that any animal testing is licensed only after it is deemed to be justified and the related animal suffering minimised.
	A form of cost benefit assessment of each individual programme of work has to be undertaken before the Home Office can consider granting the necessary licence. This means that the likely benefits of the workin terms of generating data for the purposes of risk assessmentmust be balanced against the expected welfare costs to the animals involved. No animal testing is licensed without an expert judgment being made on that basis. More information about the statutory cost benefit assessment used in these and all other cases can be found at Appendix I of Guidance on the Operation of the 1986 Act (HC 321).
	The 1986 Act additionally provides that animal testing can be licensed only if there are no non-animal alternatives and, where animals must be used, their numbers and suffering are to be minimised. This means that any animal testing judged to be necessary must involve the mildest available procedures for the purpose. Where more severe procedures are unavoidableand it is unlikely procedures of substantial severity would be needed to test household productsthey must be replaced by milder methods as soon as they are validated and then accepted by the regulatory bodies concerned. On the same basis, no animal testing can be authorised once non-animal replacements are developed and generally accepted. These constraints are reflected in a standard condition of project licences, compliance with which is monitored by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate.
	The information requested about the number of toxicity test procedures is contained in Table 25 of the annual publication Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 2003, and Table 12 of each annual publication of Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland, copies of which are in the Library.
	I should add more generally that the Government recognise that there are concerns about this issue and are not complacent about it. We have regular discussions with the UK regulators concerned, and take a leading role in Europe in encouraging the development and adoption of alternatives to all forms of animal use in science. In May 2004 we established the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), which will also be working with regulators on the acceptance of alternative methods for regulatory toxicology.

Animal Experiments (Testing)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been issued for the testing of animals in laboratories in each of the last three years.

Caroline Flint: Comprehensive statistics regarding the licensed use in Great Britain of animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are published annually. Copies of the publications for 2001, 2002 and 2003 can be found in the House Library (Cm 5581, Cm 5886 and Cm 6291 respectively).
	These publications show that 601 project licences were granted in Great Britain in 2001 under the 1986 Act. The corresponding figures for 2002 and 2003 (the latest available published data) were 695 and 774 respectively.
	Each year licences expire or are revoked, as well as granted. For completeness, and to give a more accurate idea of the overall amount of licensed work conducted, I should therefore add that there were 3,309 project licences in force in Great Britain at the end of 2001, and 3,180 and 2,977 at the end of 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were received into prison service custody for breaching antisocial behaviour orders in each month of (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

Paul Goggins: The available information relates to those aged 1017 given a custodial sentence in 2002 for breaching their antisocial behaviour order. Figures for 2003 will be available in the near future.
	
		Number of persons aged 1017 given a custodial sentence in 2002 after breaching their ASBO for the first time in 2002 by month
		
			 Month of sentence Total 
		
		
			 January 0 
			 February 1 
			 March 5 
			 April 2 
			 May 3 
			 June 3 
			 July 3 
			 August 5 
			 September 3 
			 October 7 
			 November 2 
			 December 6 
			 Total 40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. If a person breached their ASBO more than once, the table counts the severest sentence across all breaches.
	2. Breaches are counted for ASBOs reported to the Home Office

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) juveniles, (b) young offenders and (c) adults in England and Wales were sentenced to immediate custody for breach of an antisocial behaviour order in 2003.

Paul Goggins: Breach data for 2003 are not yet available.

Armed Forces Veterans

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend provision of free passports to veterans of the armed forces who joined up during the Second World War, but who are under the age of 75 years.

Des Browne: There are currently no plans to provide free concessionary passports to any individual born after 2 September 1929. This date was chosen to provide free passports to people who were 16 years of age or older at the end of the Second World War.

Armed Forces Veterans

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost of providing free passports to (a) all veterans of the armed forces who joined up during the Second World War and (b) all people born on or before VE Day.

Des Browne: The scheme for free passports for all those born on or before 2 September 1929 introduced on 18 October this year will include all veterans of the armed forces who joined up during the Second World War. It is not possible accurately to state how many of those in the scheme were members of the armed forces but current estimates of the cost of this scheme is 5 million (year 1) gradually reducing over time.
	It is estimated that issuing free passports to all those born on or before VE Day would involve in excess of 600,000 passports per year, at current cost levels resulting in a cost of approximately 30 million per year.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine whether permanent leave to remain should be granted to an applicant who has been granted a work permit in four consecutive years; and whether his policy is to consider such applications only from people in certain professions or trades.

Des Browne: In considering applications for indefinite leave to remain by work permit holders, caseworkers must be satisfied that applicants:
	a) have completed four consecutive years in this capacity,
	b) are still engaged in the same employment, and
	c) have met the requirements of Paragraph 131 of HC 395.
	Grants of indefinite leave to remain under this category are not affected by a person's profession or trade.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the construction of the accommodation centre for asylum seekers near Bicester to be completed; when he expects it to be ready to accept asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: It is expected that construction of the accommodation centre near Bicester will be completed in late 2006. It is planned that occupation of the centre will be built up over a period of between three and four months from the opening date.

Asylum Seekers

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated number of asylum seekers residing in each parliamentary constituency is.

Des Browne: Figures for asylum seekers (including dependants) in receipt of NASS accommodation support in each parliamentary constituency as at the end of September 2004 are presented in the following table. Corresponding figures for those not in receipt of NASS support are not available.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS is published quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Asylum seekers supported in NASS accommodation(5507180068)(5507180069)(5507180070)(5507180071)by parliamentary constituency and UK Government office region, as at the end of September 2004
		
			 GOR/parliamentary constituency name (5507180072) Number of asylum seekers 
		
		
			 East Midlands  
			 Derby North 135 
			 Derby South 545 
			 Gedling 20 
			 Leicester East 155 
			 Leicester South 225 
			 Leicester West 450 
			 Lincoln 20 
			 Loughborough 15 
			 Northampton North 5 
			 Northampton South * 
			 Nottingham East 710 
			 Nottingham North 60 
			 Nottingham South 365 
			 Rushcliffe 5 
			 South Derbyshire 5 
			 Sub-total 2,715 
			   
			 East of England  
			 Bedford 5 
			 Central Suffolk and North Ipswich * 
			 Epping Forest 15 
			 Ipswich 55 
			 Luton North * 
			 Luton South 10 
			 North West Cambridgeshire 95 
			 Norwich North 60 
			 Norwich South 45 
			 Peterborough 255 
			 Rochford and Southend East 10 
			 Southend West 5 
			 Stevenage * 
			 Sub-total 565 
			   
			 Northern Ireland  
			 Belfast North 15 
			 Belfast South 50 
			 Belfast West 30 
			 East Londonderry * 
			 Newry and Armagh * 
			 Sub-total 100 
			   
			 London  
			 Barking 25 
			 Beckenham 10 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow * 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 5 
			 Brent East 5 
			 Brent North 10 
			 Brent South 10 
			 Brentford and Isleworth * 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 10 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 45 
			 Chipping Barnet 10 
			 Croydon Central 40 
			 Croydon North 25 
			 Croydon South 5 
			 Dagenham 10 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 10 
			 Ealing North 25 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 20 
			 Ealing Southall 25 
			 East Ham 30 
			 Edmonton 100 
			 Eltham * 
			 Enfield North 65 
			 Enfield Southgate 50 
			 Erith and Thamesmead * 
			 Feltham and Heston 10 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 20 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 5 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 30 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 50 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 15 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 10 
			 Harrow East 15 
			 Harrow West 10 
			 Hayes and Harlington 10 
			 Hendon 15 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 5 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 95 
			 Ilford North 10 
			 Ilford South 35 
			 Islington North 30 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 40 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 10 
			 Lewisham East 10 
			 Lewisham West 20 
			 Lewisham Deptford 10 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 10 
			 Mitcham and Morden 5 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 15 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 5 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 15 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington 15 
			 Richmond Park 5 
			 Streatham 15 
			 Sutton and Cheam 5 
			 Tooting 5 
			 Tottenham 270 
			 Twickenham 5 
			 Upminster 5 
			 Uxbridge 5 
			 Vauxhall 20 
			 Walthamstow 40 
			 West Ham 40 
			 Sub-total 1,475 
			   
			 North East  
			 Darlington 30 
			 Gateshead East and Washington West 75 
			 Hartlepool 30 
			 Houghton and Washington East 120 
			 Jarrow 25 
			 Middlesbrough 595 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 75 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 460 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 470 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne North 155 
			 North Tyneside 150 
			 Redcar 255 
			 South Shields 120 
			 Stockton North 210 
			 Stockton South 180 
			 Sunderland North 130 
			 Sunderland South 240 
			 Tyne Bridge 775 
			 Tynemouth 65 
			 Sub-total 4,165 
			   
			 North West  
			 Altrincham and Sale West 5 
			 Ashton under Lyne 245 
			 Blackburn 235 
			 Bolton North East 225 
			 Bolton South East 400 
			 Bolton West 60 
			 Bootle 55 
			 Burnley 30 
			 Bury North 320 
			 Bury South 120 
			 Cheadle 5 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 10 
			 Denton and Reddish 75 
			 Eccles 140 
			 Hazel Grove 30 
			 Heywood and Middleton 15 
			 Hyndburn * 
			 Leigh 200 
			 Liverpool Garston 10 
			 Liverpool Riverside 340 
			 Liverpool Walton 160 
			 Liverpool Wavertree 350 
			 Liverpool West Derby 70 
			 Makerfield 160 
			 Manchester Central 520 
			 Manchester Blackley 150 
			 Manchester Gorton 450 
			 Manchester Withington 35 
			 Oldham East and Saddleworth 150 
			 Oldham West and Royton 310 
			 Pendle 20 
			 Preston * 
			 Rochdale 410 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 85 
			 Salford 705 
			 Stalybridge and Hyde 45 
			 Stockport 115 
			 Stretford and Urmston 85 
			 Wigan 210 
			 Worsley 105 
			 Wythenshawe and Sale East 65 
			 Sub-total 6,720 
			   
			 Scotland  
			 Glasgow Anniesland 470 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 145 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 270 
			 Glasgow Govan 1,105 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 540 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 180 
			 Glasgow Pollok 255 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 195 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 380 
			 Glasgow Springburn 2,120 
			 Sub-total 5,665 
			   
			 South East  
			 Brighton Pavilion 35 
			 Dartford 5 
			 Hastings and Rye 215 
			 Hove 40 
			 Medway 5 
			 North East Milton Keynes * 
			 Oxford East 15 
			 Portsmouth North 135 
			 Portsmouth South 255 
			 Slough 10 
			 Southampton Itchen * 
			 Southampton Test * 
			 Sub-total 720 
			   
			 South West  
			 Bristol East 225 
			 Bristol North West 40 
			 Bristol South 25 
			 Bristol West 65 
			 Exeter 30 
			 Gloucester 85 
			 Kingswood 85 
			 North Swindon 40 
			 Plymouth Devonport 50 
			 Plymouth Sutton 340 
			 South Dorset * 
			 South Swindon 75 
			 Sub-total 1,060 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Cardiff Central 405 
			 Cardiff North 60 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 365 
			 Cardiff West 160 
			 Clwyd South 10 
			 Gower 15 
			 Newport East 170 
			 Newport West 155 
			 Swansea East 570 
			 Swansea West 320 
			 Wrexham 45 
			 Sub-total 2,280 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Aldridge-Brownhills 130 
			 Birmingham Edgbaston 200 
			 Birmingham Erdington 185 
			 Birmingham Hall Green 15 
			 Birmingham Hodge Hill 50 
			 Birmingham Ladywood 1,140 
			 Birmingham Northfield 5 
			 Birmingham Perry Barr 365 
			 Birmingham Selly Oak 110 
			 Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath 315 
			 Birmingham Yardley 25 
			 Coventry North East 235 
			 Coventry North West 85 
			 Coventry South 460 
			 Dudley North 265 
			 Dudley South 225 
			 Halesowen and Rowley Regis 110 
			 Meriden 95 
			 Mid Worcestershire 5 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 35 
			 Nuneaton 5 
			 Solihull 5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Central 380 
			 Stoke-on-Trent North 235 
			 Stoke-on-Trent South 110 
			 Stourbridge 95 
			 Walsall North 135 
			 Walsall South 250 
			 Warley 510 
			 West Bromwich East 160 
			 West Bromwich West 90 
			 Wolverhampton North East 415 
			 Wolverhampton South East 110 
			 Wolverhampton South West 255 
			 Sub-total 6,805 
			   
			 Yorkshire and The Humber  
			 Barnsley Central 320 
			 Barnsley East and Mexborough 80 
			 Barnsley West and Penistone 130 
			 Batley and Spen 15 
			 Bradford North 230 
			 Bradford South 175 
			 Bradford West 790 
			 City of York 5 
			 Colne Valley 170 
			 Dewsbury 105 
			 Don Valley 40 
			 Doncaster Central 855 
			 Doncaster North 70 
			 Great Grimsby 155 
			 Halifax 260 
			 Hemsworth 35 
			 Huddersfield 655 
			 Keighley 5 
			 Kingston upon Hull East 40 
			 Kingston upon Hull North 225 
			 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 360 
			 Leeds Central 835 
			 Leeds East 600 
			 Leeds North East 335 
			 Leeds North West 20 
			 Leeds West 260 
			 Morley and Rothwell 5 
			 Normanton 65 
			 Pontefract and Castleford 75 
			 Pudsey * 
			 Rother Valley 25 
			 Rotherham 570 
			 Sheffield Central 660 
			 Sheffield Attercliffe 175 
			 Sheffield Brightside 290 
			 Sheffield Heeley 155 
			 Sheffield Hillsborough 25 
			 Shipley 70 
			 Wakefield 240 
			 Wentworth 80 
			 Sub-total 9,210 
		
	
	(5507180068) Figures have been rounded to nearest 5, with (*) = 1 or 2, and are provisional.
	(5507180069) Asylum seekers that have been allocated NASS accommodation and have been confirmed as having arrived in that accommodation.
	(5507180070) Excludes unaccompanied asylum seeking children supported by local authorities, estimated at around 7,000 in May 2004. Excludes cases that pre-date the establishment of NASS in April 2000, administered under arrangements with local authorities, estimated at up to 16,000 cases in May 2004 (the number of such cases is falling).
	(5507180071) Excludes cases where support has been ceased by the National Asylum Support Service.
	(5507180072) Only those Parliamentary constituencies where NASS dispersed or disbenefitted cases are resident are shown.

Asylum Seekers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people entering England seeking asylum as an unaccompanied minor in each year since 2000 were subsequently deported after their 18th birthday; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 21 December 2004
	The information requested on removals is not available. Although statistics of the removal of failed asylum seekers include young people who entered the UK seeking asylum as unaccompanied minors, they do not separately identify such persons.
	Asylum seekers apply for asylum in the UK rather than specifically in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
	The table shows total number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the year stated.
	
		Unaccompanied children(5507180073)(5507180074)(5507180075), aged 17 or under, applying for asylum in the UK, 2000 to 2003
		
			  Number of principal applicants 
		
		
			 2000(5507180076) 2,735 
			 2001(5507180076) 3,470 
			 2002(5507180077) 6,200 
			 2003(5507180077)(5507180078) 3,180 
		
	
	(5507180073) Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	(5507180074) Unaccompanied at point of arrival, aged (or if no proof) determined to be 17 or under and not known to be joining a relative or guardian in the United Kingdom.
	(5507180075) Figures exclude disputed age cases.
	(5507180076) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices.
	(5507180077) Not comparable with manual counts data prior to 2002.
	(5507180078) Provisional figures.
	Information on asylum applications and removals are published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Belmarsh Detainees

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of enforcing the bail conditions imposed on detainee G, who was released on bail from HMP Belmarsh in April; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 21 December 2004
	Premier Monitoring have been monitoring the detainee referred to as G since February 2004. The Electronic Monitoring element of his Bail Order cost 8,685.60 including VAT up to the end of December 2004.
	Other costs incurred include legal challenges lodged by G, (for example, to amend the conditions attached to his bail) and regular visits to him by Immigration Officers and, where appropriate, the police. Were G to travel away from his home, under the terms of the order, he would need to travel with a police escort. These costs are not monitored centrally.

Biometrics

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of facial recognition systems by police forces; and what assessment he has made of their impact in (a) securing convictions and (b) reducing crime.

Caroline Flint: The Facial Images National Database (FIND) project currently being undertaken by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) is aiming to deliver a nationally available mugshot database of facial images, linked to the respective PNC records, in 2006. One key element of this project involves providing guidance to police forces on image capture standards in order to ensure that the database is populated with the best possible images.
	Face recognition systems, with current technology, are most effective when used for one to one matching, for example to help verify that an individual is who they claim to be. Despite significant advances in the last few years, the technology still has some way to go before it is capable of reliably performing face in the crowd type searches against either a large database or a smaller watch-list.
	Post-event analysis is an example of a promising area for the use for facial recognition technology. The facial recognition element of the victim-focused work with regards to child abuse images being undertaken by the National Crime Squad is proving very successful in identifying victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse and in identifying links between cases.
	A number of direct law enforcement applications have been implemented, including the London borough of Newham partnership with the Metropolitan Police to provide facial recognition as part of a town centre protection application.
	PITO continues to maintain close links with both industry and academia regarding developments in this field, and are also undertaking a programme of work to evaluate the current potential for this technology in a variety of policing applications.

British Passports

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on issuing British passports to South African nationals who are serving in the British Army and married to British citizens;
	(2)  whether South African nationals who are married to a British citizen are eligible to be issued with a British passport while continuing to serve in the British Army;
	(3)  what steps a South African national serving in the British Army and married to a British citizen should take to apply for a British passport.

Des Browne: Under Section 6(1) (section 6(2) if married to a British citizen) of the British Nationality Act 1981 applicants for naturalisation must meet, among other things, a number of residence requirements which are detailed in Schedule 1, paragraph 1 (2) of the Act.
	The residence requirements include five years residence in the UK immediately prior to application (three if married to a British citizen) and a mandatory requirement to have been physically in the UK on the actual date five years (three if married to a British citizen) prior to the date of application. There is no discretion to waive the requirement to have been physically present in the UK at the start of the five year qualifying period (three years if married to a British citizen) where an application is being made on the basis of residence.
	These requirements have not been amended and have been applied consistently since the Act came into force on 1 January 1983.
	There is scope under the Act for Crown Service overseas, on the date of application for citizenship, to act as an alternative to the residence criteria outlined above, (Schedule 1 paragraph 1(3) of the Act). However the Home Office applies very strict criteria in such cases and very few applications are ever granted on this basis. Examples of cases we have approved include applicants who had more than 20 years Crown service with British embassies, at pro- and vice-consul level and their applications were supported by current and previous ambassadors.
	In line with the recent review into the Home Office immigration and naturalisation policy for Gurkhas, the policy for naturalisation for all servicemen has been changed. We will, generally, no longer naturalise a member of the armed forces while they are still in service. Once discharged, ex-servicemen who have served four or more years in the armed forces will be eligible to apply for settled status. Once settled they will be free to live and work in the UK indefinitely and will be able to apply for naturalisation, subject to meeting the usual residence requirements. The new policy takes account of the potential high levels of absences that ex-servicemen may have and will enable these to be waived in most cases.
	Our policy on applications made under the Crown Service arrangements has not changed as a result of the review; we will continue to apply the same strict criteria in these cases.

Child Detention

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that legislation concerning children's interests applies equally to children in prison and children in asylum detention centres, following the recent judgment in Regina (on behalf of the Howard League for Penal Reform) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Paul Goggins: The judgment of the Administrative Court in R (on the application of the Howard League for Penal Reform) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Another clarified the law in relation to young people in custody. The court ruled that local authorities continue to have responsibilities towards children who are detained in young offender institutions, subject to the requirements of custody. The Home Office, the Youth Justice Board and the Department for Education and Skills have taken a range of measures to implement that ruling and also to strengthen child protection and safeguarding generally for young people in custody. Most notably, the board is funding the provision of 25 new social worker posts in Young Offender Institutions.
	Although the judgment related specifically to children in young offender institutions, the Government accept that its general principles would apply in the context of children detained under Immigration Act powers. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is meeting the broad principles set out in the judgment to the extent that it is possible for it to do so in the context of immigration detention and the removal of failed asylum seekers and others.
	The Children Act 2004 places legal protections for young people in custody on a statutory footing. It places a duty on prison governors or directors, and governors or directors of secure training centres, to make arrangements for ensuring that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Governors or directors of juvenile young offender institutions and secure training centres also become board partners in Local Safeguarding Children's Boards, which will be established to co-ordinate, and ensure the effectiveness of, safeguarding in their children's services authority area.
	The children of asylum seekers and refugees are not excluded from the arrangements in the 2004 Act. The arrangements under sections 10 (co-operation to improve well-being), 11 (arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare) and 1316 (Local Safeguarding Children Boards) of the Act are intended to cover all children. This includes those seeking asylum or refugees, when they come into contact with the agencies involved in the arrangements or, more generally, through the focus of the section 10 co-operation arrangements on all children.
	Although the statutory duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of children was not placed on the Immigration Service, the IS takes its responsibilities towards children very seriously and fully appreciates the importance of identifying vulnerable children, including those who may be detained with their families. All removal centres that may hold families with children are required to have in place child protection policies and procedures based on a national template and to maintain close ties with local agencies involved in child protection and welfare matters. In addition, while the Immigration Service is not a core member under the duty to co-operate to improve well-being or the duty to establish Local Safeguarding Children Boards, where appropriate the Immigration Service will be involved in these arrangements. This would include those areas in which removal centres holding families with children are located.

Child Abuse

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been convicted of child abuse offences in each of the last five years in England; and what proportion of offenders were (a) men and (b) the parent or step-parent of the child victim in each year.

Paul Goggins: Statistics on the number of offenders convicted of sexual offences involving minors, are provided in the table. The figures also include the proportion of offenders found guilty who were male, aged 18 and over.
	It is not possible to identify the relationship of the offender to the victim, as these data are not collected centrally on the Home Office court proceedings database.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty at all courts, and the percentage of which were males aged 18 and over for sexual offences against minors where the age of the victim is identified by the offence(5507180079)(5507180080) England 1999 to 2003
		
			  1999 2000(5507180081) 
			  Found guilty Percentage that were male aged 18 and over Found guilty Percentage that were male aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Buggery by a male of a male under 16 49 96 46 98 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 17 1 100 3 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a male aged 16 or 17 1 100   
			 Buggery by a male with a female under 16 11 91 12 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 17   1 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a female aged 16 or 17 1 100 1 100 
			 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years 308 85 275 82 
			 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 18 8 100 11 100 
			 Rape of a female aged under 16 222 94 188 92 
			 Rape of a male aged under 16 32 59 21 67 
			 Attempted rape of a female aged under 16 42 86 29 86 
			 Attempted rape of a male aged under 16 6 50 2 50 
			 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1,376 85 1,201 85 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 51 75 48 73 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 180 93 197 87 
			 Incest with a girl under 13 13 77 12 83 
			 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 1 100 2 100 
			 Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 
			 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. 1 0   
			 Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male 3 100 3 100 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 1 100 3 67 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 1 100   
			 Gross indecency with boys aged less than 16 66 89 51 88 
			 Gross indecency with girls aged less than 16 134 95 128 92 
			 Total 2,508 78 2,234 86 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 
			  Found guilty Percentage that were male aged 18 and over Found guilty Percentage that were male aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Buggery by a male of a male under 16 57 98 49 94 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 17 
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a male aged 16 or 17 
			 Buggery by a male with a female under 16 7 86 9 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 17 1 100   
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a female aged 16 or 17 
			 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years 256 84 281 78 
			 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 18   4 100 
			 Rape of a female aged under 16 168 93 193 96 
			 Rape of a male aged under 16 26 69 30 87 
			 Attempted rape of a female aged under 16 30 87 37 86 
			 Attempted rape of a male aged under 16 5 80 4 100 
			 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1,194 84 1,229 81 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 49 61 44 68 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 194 87 210 84 
			 Incest with a girl under 13 4 75 10 90 
			 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 3 100 3 67 
			 Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 1 0   
			 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. 
			 Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male 2 100 4 100 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 2 50 3 100 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 
			 Gross indecency with boys aged less than 16 73 89 68 87 
			 Gross indecency with girls aged less than 16 154 88 168 90 
			 Total 2,226 85 2,346 83 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 
			  Found guilty Percentage that were male aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Buggery by a male of a male under 16 40 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 17   
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a male aged 16 or 17   
			 Buggery by a male with a female under 16 5 100 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 17   
			 Buggery by a male aged 1820 with a female aged 16 or 17   
			 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years 247 85 
			 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 18   
			 Rape of a female aged under 16 239 94 
			 Rape of a male aged under 16 26 77 
			 Attempted rape of a female aged under 16 32 88 
			 Attempted rape of a male aged under 16 8 63 
			 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1,137 85 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 44 61 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 233 90 
			 Incest with a girl under 13 9 56 
			 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 2 50 
			 Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16   
			 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc,   
			 Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male   
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 2 50 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 18   
			 Gross indecency with boys aged less than 16 79 89 
			 Gross indecency with girls aged less than 16 177 90 
			 Total 2,280 86 
		
	
	(5507180079) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(5507180080) Excludes those offences where the age of a victim cannot be identified in the wording of the offence.
	(5507180081) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000 Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Civil Service

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken for civil service staff to pass security vetting procedures was in the last period for which figures are available.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The security vetting process is managed by the employing or contracting Government Department. Details of the time taken to carry out individual clearances are not held centrally.
	The length of time taken to carry out a clearance is dependent on a number of factors. These include the nature and extent of the checks involved at each level of clearance: Developed vetting (DV) clearance, which is necessary for long term frequent and uncontrolled access to top secret information or assets, requires a greater breadth and depth of checks as well as an interview with the subject and referees, and generally takes longer to carry out than a security check (SCfor long term, frequent and uncontrolled access to secret information or assets) or counter-terrorist check (CTCfor access to public figures or establishments at particular risk of terrorist attack).

Civil Service

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following is a table of recorded sick leave for staff within the main Home Office Department since 1997:
	
		
			  Days sick 
			  Calendar days Working days Percentage WD lost Staff covered(5507180082) 
		
		
			 1997  191,812 141,837.82 6.9 9,174 
			 1998  189,107 139,837.57 6.7 9,317 
			 1999  186,074 137,594.78 6.2 9,812 
			 2000  212,102 156,841.52 6.3 11,060 
			 2001  222,924 164,843.98 6.6 11,142 
			 2002  248,650 183,867.40 6.5 12,607 
			 2003  286,259 226,685.29 6.9 14,686 
			 2004  92,115 74,226.14 6.6 10,026 
			 2002 Core and IND  160,357 5.5  
			  Core  32,917 6.0  
			  IND  127,440 4.0  
			 2003 Core and IND  149,216.3 4.1  
			  Core  31,946 4.5  
			  IND  117,270.3 3.2  
			 2004 Core and IND  155,632 4.2  
			  Core  31,043 3.0  
			  IND  124,589 4.1  
		
	
	(5507180082) Staff sick in calendar year, sickness begins before end of year, ends after start.
	Notes:
	1. Calendar to working day conversion has been given by applying the ratios found in the earliest available full breakdown (November 2002) to the earlier data. This provides an adjustment for part year workers, and part-time staff. However it assumes that years previous to 2002 had a similar ratio of such staff.
	2. Figures are lower than those for 2002 from archive, in part because of winter sickness November/December 2002 that will have not reached the system at the time this report was run in November.

Class A Drugs

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in prison for dealing in class A drugs.

Paul Goggins: On 31 October 2004, there were 12,058 persons in prison establishments for all drugs offences, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system. Of these, 1,150 were recorded as being on remand for unlawful supply or possession with intent to supply, with 6,850 recorded as being under immediate custodial sentence for the same offences 1 . These figures are not available by class of drug.
	1 Estimated figures that are rounded to the nearest 50.

Community Punishments

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target was for Enhanced Community Punishment commencements in England and Wales in 200304; and whether that target was achieved.

Paul Goggins: The target for Enhanced Community Punishment commencements in England and Wales for 200304 was 25,000; the target was exceeded with the achievement of 34,681 commencements (39 per. cent above the target).

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 11 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Kamal Mohammed.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 3 December 2004.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he has not yet replied to the letter of 15 November from the hon. Member for Yeovil in relation to an immigration appeal, Home Office reference D1086636; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 15 December 2004
	The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart), wrote to the hon. Member on 14 December.

Counterfeit Medicines

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for counterfeiting prescription-only medicines in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales 1997 to 2003 for the offence of Forgery etc. of prescription in respect of scheduled drug is contained in the following table.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against for Forgery etc. of prescription in respect of a controlled drug(5507180083), England and Wales 1997 to 2003
		
			  Proceeded against 
		
		
			 1997 73 
			 1998 84 
			 1999 102 
			 2000 97 
			 2001 112 
			 2002 94 
			 2003 103 
		
	
	(5507180083) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Court Reports

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of court reports written for the courts in England and Wales by the National Probation Service were produced within 15 days of a request for that report in the last period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested for 200304 and the first six months of 200405, is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Number provided in response to request Number provided within 15 working days of request Percentage meeting standard 
		
		
			 200304 110,712 72,141 65 
			 200405 (April-  September) 69,844 54,336 78

Court Reports

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any probation areas in England and Wales reported that they had failed to produce court reports within the 15 days work standard because of staff shortages, vacancies or resource issues in the last period for which information is available.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office does not collect data on the reasons for failure to produce court reports. Centrally available data shows that the proportion of court reports provided within 15 days of request in the first half of 200405 was 78 per cent. Although this falls short of the 90 per cent. target, it is a significant improvement on the 65 per cent. achieved in 200304.
	The National Probation Directorate are currently exploring the possibility of introducing a more appropriate target that measures the proportion of reports that meet the time scale set by the courts, which in many cases may be different from the current 15 working days standard.
	Probation staff are employed by the 42 local Probation Boards and staff shortages are a matter for each individual employer. The number of staff working in the National Probation Service has increased from 13,968 in 1997 to 19,237 in March 2004, an increase of over 5,000 extra staff.

CRB Registration

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) national governing bodies of sport, (b) county sports associations and (c) sports clubs that have registered as an accredited body with the Criminal Records Bureau;
	(2)  what the total cost is of registering with the Criminal Records Bureau as a registered body; and whether there is a minimum number of checks that must be carried out each year;
	(3)  how many Criminal Records Bureau checks have been carried out through accredited sports bodies since the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hazel Blears: All organisations wishing to register with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) must pay a 300 registration fee. Additional Countersignatory applications cost 5 each. There is currently no annual minimum requirement for the number of checks submitted by registered bodies.
	I am unable to provide a definitive list of all national governing bodies of sport, county sports associations and sports clubs that are registered with the CRB. When applying to become registered bodies, all organisations are requested to identify their business sector from a list provided by the CRB. Sports associations are categorised under the leisure services business sector, but not all organisations who are involved in sports activities identify themselves under leisure services. The CRB is therefore unable to identify from the business sector whether registered bodies belong specifically to the groups in question.
	Furthermore, the business sector information is not a mandatory part of the registration process and the CRB is aware that a number of registered bodies have not provided this detail. This also prevents the CRB from providing a complete analysis of the business sector for its registered bodies.
	Many organisations also use the services of umbrella bodies to access the disclosure service and the sporting bodies about whom my hon. Friend is concerned may also be using this route, which again prevents a complete analysis.
	Consequently, the CRB cannot provide the total number of disclosures issued to the sports bodies in question. It is estimated that the leisure industry accounts for about 7 per cent. of all disclosures issued.

CRB Registration

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it has taken on average since January for the Criminal Records Bureau to process an application from a drugs service relating to an individual who wishes to work in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The Criminal Records Bureau is unable to provide the information sought without details of the specific organisation or individual. The hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham may wish to provide further details directly to the Bureau who will be pleased to provide a full response.

Criminal Appeals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to amend the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 to allow (a) documentary and (b) photographic evidence relevant to the case but not presented at the trial to be used in an appeal.

Paul Goggins: Section 23 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 already empowers the Court of Appeal, if it considers it necessary or expedient in the interests of justice, to order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing which appears necessary for the determination of the appeal. This includes any evidence which was not presented at the trial from which the appeal lies. When considering whether to receive any evidence the Court of Appeal must have regard to various factors: whether the evidence appears to the Court to be capable of belief; whether the evidence may afford any ground for allowing the appeal; whether the evidence would have been admissible in the trial; and whether there is a reasonable explanation for the failure to adduce the evidence at the trial.

Criminal Justice Intervention Panels

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the Criminal Justice Intervention panels in the 200405 financial year will be; and which authorities will be liable to fund them.

Caroline Flint: The intensive elements of the Drug Interventions Programme are currently operational in 66 police Basic Command Units (47 DATs) with high levels of acquisitive crime. In 200506 we will expand the intensive elements of the Drug Interventions Programme to a further 32 police Basic Command Units. All areas in England and Wales are in receipt of funding for arrest referral schemes and for throughcare and aftercare.
	Estimated total funding for the programme in 200405 is 188 million. This includes funding transferred to other agencies such as the Probation Service for the management of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs).
	Most costs are met by central funding although the success of the Programme depends on the full participation of all agencies.

Criminal Justice Intervention Panels

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact the Criminal Justice Intervention panels are expected to have on local criminal justice and drug organisations.

Caroline Flint: The Drug Interventions Programme (formerly CJIP) provides an opportunity for all criminal justice agencies and drug treatment organisations to work together in addressing drug-related crime and the associated treatment needs of offenders. Experience to date indicates that the Programme is working as a catalyst to join up services, plug gaps and address with new vigour the problems that drug misuse can cause in our communities.

Criminal Justice Intervention Panels

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact the creation of Criminal Justice Intervention panels is expected to have on (a) drug-related and (b) persistent crime in (i) 200405 and (ii) 2005 to 2007.

Caroline Flint: Precise estimates of the impact of the Drug Interventions Programme on drug-related and persistent crime are not yet available. However, the key aim of the Programme is to get drug-using offenders into treatment as there is a wealth of research evidence to show that treatment reduces both drug use and offending. For example the National Treatment Outcomes Research Study found significant reductions in offending among those entering treatment. Early figures show that around 1,500 offenders a month are now entering treatment as a result of the Programme.
	Other early evidence also shows that acquisitive crime is falling faster in Drug Interventions Programme areas than in non-Programme areas.

Criminal Justice Intervention Panels

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change in the number of people accessing drug treatment as a result of Criminal Justice Implementation panel intervention he expects in (a) 200405 and (b) 2005 to 2007.

Caroline Flint: The Drug Interventions Programme (formerly CJIP) is having a positive impact on drug treatment for all drug users and is acting as a catalyst to improve availability, accessibility and quality of treatment.
	In (a) 200405: Between April and October 2004 over 7,000 people entered drug treatment through the programme, with 190 per cent. more people entering treatment in October than in April.
	In (b) 2005 to 2007: We are on track to achieve our ambition of getting 1,000 offenders a week into treatment by 2008 and are currently running ahead of the interim target to get 1,250 offenders per month into treatment by March 2005.
	The numbers accessing treatment via the Drug Interventions Programme do not show the full picture. NTA figures show that 154,000 drug users were in treatment in England in 200304.

Curfew Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  in what percentage of offenders sentenced to a curfew order a possible violation of the conditions of the order has resulted in a call out;
	(2)  how many offenders who have been subject to a curfew order and breached that order have received a custodial sentence;
	(3)  how many offenders were the subject of a curfew order in the last 12 months to 1 November.

Paul Goggins: 9,599 persons were sentenced to a curfew order by the courts in England and Wales in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available.
	The following number of persons received sentences of immediate custody following breaches of curfew orders:
	
		
			  Number of persons received sentences of immediate custody 
		
		
			 1997 24 
			 1998 64 
			 1999 83 
			 2000 116 
			 2001 185 
			 2002 240 
			 2003 331 
		
	
	Information on the numbers of possible violations of the conditions of curfew orders that result in a call out is not collected centrally.

Curfew Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what (a) length of time and (b) number of offenders the electronic monitoring kit for home detention curfew orders is used before it is (i) refurbished and (ii) discarded.

Paul Goggins: The equipment is used and re-used for offenders indefinitely. It is checked at the start of the curfew and every 28 days during the monitoring period. The equipment is also checked when the curfew expires. The battery in the tag is changed every six months and the battery in the monitoring unit is changed every 18 months to two years. When the equipment is damaged it is either repaired or discarded.

Cycling

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists have been prosecuted in each year since 1991 for cycling without due care and attention.

Caroline Flint: The information contained in the table gives the number of persons proceeded against for cycling without due care and attention, England and Wales 1991 to 2003.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against for cycling without due care and attention(5507180084) England and Wales 1991 to 2003
		
			  Proceeded against 
		
		
			 1991 89 
			 1992 77 
			 1993 89 
			 1994 100 
			 1995 116 
			 1996 97 
			 1997 127 
			 1998 127 
			 1999 121 
			 2000 94 
			 2001 75 
			 2002 66 
			 2003 77 
		
	
	(5507180084) These data are on the principal offence basis

Departmental Advertising

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television advertisements his Department has commissioned on (a) terrestrial and (b) satellite television channels in the last 12 months; and what the cost was in each case.

Fiona Mactaggart: Television advertisements are generally produced to be used on both terrestrial and satellite channels. Advertising space is purchased on the basis of which media will be most effective at reaching the target audience. In virtually all cases this will involve a mix of satellite and terrestrial channels. For this reason it is not possible to differentiate the spend between terrestrial and satellite advertising.
	During 200304 the Home Office produced the following television commercials all of which appeared on satellite and terrestrial television. The total media spend is included for each campaign.
	Drugs
	Frank
	Talk about drugs
	Worried
	Fishing
	Swimming
	Weatherman
	Launderette
	Curling
	Hugging
	Taking over
	Total TV media costs1,789,953
	Internet Safety
	Child safety on the internet
	Total TV media costs707,436
	Vehicle Crime
	Interview
	The Chase
	Total TV media spend1,899,952
	Police Recruitment
	Lisa Potts
	Lennox Lewis
	Special constables
	Total TV media spend:
	Regulars1,020,000
	Specials1,700,000

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost of building refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department does not maintain central records of the cost of every building refurbishment it has carried out and provision of this information would be at disproportionate cost. However for offices in central London and Croydon the approximate expenditure on such projects, which includes elements of maintenance and alterations to house additional staff is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 20022003 9.2 
			 20032004 4.0

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: In relation to the financial year 200203 I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 39798W.
	My hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office has asked Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to write to the hon. Member with details of the Ministerial vehicles provided to this Department in 200304.
	The recorded cost of using taxi's over the last two years are given in the following table.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200203 362,905 
			 200304 435,416 
		
	
	Travel by taxi is allowed only in the following circumstances:
	for journeys for which there is no other suitable method of public transport, or
	where heavy luggage has to be transported to or from the place of departure or arrival, or
	where the saving of official time is important.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a general fund for victims of domestic violence.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 2 December 2004
	We have no plans to introduce a general fund for victims of domestic violence. We do, however, fund a range of services to benefit victims of domestic violence. This includes over 32.1 million over three years to expand and improve refuges; and 50 million each year to provide housing based support through the Supporting People Fund. We also recently funded the first domestic violence publicity campaign to promote the national freephone helpline. Delivered in partnership by Women's Aid and Refuge, this helpline is run with funding of 1 million from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister matched by 1 million from Comic Relief.

Domestic Violence

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) female murder victims have been killed by their partner or husband and (b) male murder victims were killed by their partner or wife since 2000.

Paul Goggins: The latest available information on homicide is published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, Crime in England and Wales 2002/2003: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime. Table 1.05 provides data on victims killed by their partner/ex-partner as given in the following table:
	
		England and Wales
		
			  Female victim Male victim 
		
		
			 19992000 88 24 
			 200001 98 25 
			 200102 120 30 
			 200203 107 33 
			 Total 413 112 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are as at 13 November 2003 and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police, by the courts or as further information becomes available.

Domestic Violence

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that an appropriate amount of money goes to local women's refuge organisations and other domestic violence support services working with children affected by domestic violence under Section 50 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	Through the Safeguard Children and Supporting Families grants and other funding streams, the Department for Education and Skills provides funding for voluntary organisations, such as women's refuges.
	Furthermore, as part of a package of support for families affected by domestic violence, local authorities can provide funds from the Government's Supporting People programme, to fund housing-related support. Services for children are not funded directly by Supporting People. Supporting People funding does not cover under 16s as they would not be expected to manage their own accommodation. Services for under 16s are provided in satisfaction of a statutory duty and these duties are specifically excluded from Supporting People funding. Other services for under 16s are provided by local authority Social Services departments.
	The funding that local authorities have allocated for domestic violence services from their Supporting People budgets in 200405 is 56,964,000. There is no breakdown of specific amounts allocated to children's services as the funds would be directed towards adult family heads.
	It is for local authorities to decide how best to provide support and services for all children in need in its locale, including those children affected by domestic violence. There is no current specific earmarked funding for services of this nature. Instead, Government funding is allocated to Councils with social services responsibilities on the basis of the needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each body's target fair share of available resources. It is, therefore, for Councils, working in partnership with relevant local stakeholders, to determine their spending priorities on the basis of local needs.

Drink Spiking

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of drink spiking detection and prevention devices; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 2 December 2004
	The Home Office is aware of a number of products, both in development and on the market, that claim to provide a partial or whole solution to the problem of drink-spiking. The list of substances that can be used to spike drinks is almost endless, with any substance that may have a sedative effect being a possible candidate. While drugs like Rohypnol and GHB (Gammahydroxybutyrate) have received wide publicity, they are rarely found in samples. As a result, products which allow the user to test drinks for certain illicit substances, may provide a potentially dangerous false reassurance.
	While bottle caps and drinks holders may reduce the potential for drink spiking, they too can provide a false reassurance of safety, given evidence that it is the consumption of alcohol, rather than drink spiking, which more commonly increases vulnerability to sexual crime (please refer to answer given to questions 199964/6/7 regarding FSS research on this). The Government therefore urge the public to treat such products with caution. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has in the past commissioned research to look at the viability of a potential drug detecting device, such as a swizzle stick, that could be unobtrusively used by people in pubs and clubs to detect drugs in drinks. Due to the difficulty of producing a satisfactory device, the project is not being continued.
	A message of safer and more responsible drinking, alongside increased awareness and vigilance upon the part of friends and staff, will be most effective in increasing the safety of people who feel they are vulnerable to drink-spiking. The Home Office issues guidance to licensed premises on how to deal with the effects of drug use on their premises, which is in the process of being revised. The updated version will include a section on drug assisted sexual assault.

Drug Interventions Programme

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Drug Interventions Programme.

Caroline Flint: The Drug Interventions Programme (formerly Criminal Justice Interventions Programme) is a critical part of the Government's national strategy for tackling drugs. The programme aims to make the most of opportunities provided by the criminal justice system to get drug misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment.
	The intensive elements of the Drug Interventions Programme are currently operational in 66 police basic command units (47 DATs) with high levels of acquisitive crime. In 200506 we will expand the intensive elements of the programme to a further 32 basic command units. These elements include testing for Class A drugs following charge for certain offences and in a number of areas restriction on court bail for those who have tested positive.
	The programme will be enhanced by measures to be included in the Drugs Bill, introduced to Parliament on 16 December 2004.
	Early evidence shows that acquisitive crime is falling faster in Drug Interventions Programme areas than in non-programme areas.

Dungavel Detention Centre

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been detained in the family accommodation at Dungavel Detention Centre in each month since its re-opening.

Des Browne: Following the disturbance at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre in July it was necessary, for a short time, to use the family accommodation at Dungavel for single male detainees. The family accommodation at Dungavel is no longer being used for this purpose and families are being detained there as appropriate. Children and infants are detained as part of family groups whose detention is considered necessary, most often just prior to their removal and usually just for a few days.
	Information on the total number of children detained under Immigration Act powers in each month is not available. Official statistics on immigration detainees are produced on a snap-shot basis. On 25 September 2004, 40 children were detained solely under Immigration Act powers in the United Kingdom, however none of these were held at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre.
	Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 25 December 2004 will be published on the Home Office web-site on 22 February 2005. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1 .html

E-mails

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage and deletion of e-mails; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act
	E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Further e-mail guidance is available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing_emails.pdf.
	Departmental policies are kept under review and this is the case for all record management policies. There has been no change to policies over the last 12 months. They continue to treat e-mails as one of the many document types containing business information and so they are used as part of the business record accordingly.

Escaped Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what offences prisoners who absconded in 2004 from open prisons were serving custodial sentences.

Paul Goggins: holing answer 20 December 2004
	From 1 January this year to date there have been 934 absconds from open and semi-open prisons. Information about each prisoner's offence could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Escaped Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from each prison in each of the last five years; and how many have not been recaptured.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 20 December 2004
	The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Totals
		
			 Financial year Total escapes from establishments Total recaptured Total KPI escapes 
		
		
			 19992000 30 29 30 
			 200001 13 13 11 
			 200102 17 16 15 
			 200203 5 4 5 
			 200304 11 10 10 
		
	
	
		Financial year 19992000
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI 
		
		
			 Pare 1 1 1 
			 Stocken 1 1 1 
			 Hollesley Bay 3 3 3 
			 Littlehey 1 0 1 
			 The Mount 1 1 1 
			 Rochester 3 3 3 
			 Haverigg 1 1 1 
			 Liverpool 1 1 1 
			 Risley 1 1 1 
			 Styal 4 4 4 
			 Thorn Cross 1 1 1 
			 Deerbolt 2 2 2 
			 Huntercombe 1 1 1 
			 Featherstone 1 1 1 
			 Lindholme 8 8 8 
			 Total 30 29 30 
		
	
	
		Financial year 200001
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI 
		
		
			 Guys Marsh 1 1 1 
			 Erlestoke 4 4 2 
			 Blantyre House 1 1 1 
			 Portland 2 2 2 
			 Risley 1 1 1 
			 Brinsford 1 1 1 
			 Downview 1 1 1 
			 Kirklevington 1 1 1 
			 Lancaster 1 1 1 
			 Total 13 13 11 
		
	
	
		Financial year 200102
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI 
		
		
			 Norwich 1 1 1 
			 The Verne 1 1 1 
			 Erlestoke 1 1 1 
			 Winchester 1 1 1 
			 Grendon 3 3 3 
			 Lindholme 3 2 1 
			 Wealstun 1 1 1 
			 Feltham 1 1 1 
			 Guys Marsh 3 3 3 
			 Rye Hill 2 2 2 
			 Total 17 16 15 
		
	
	
		Financial year 200203
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI 
		
		
			 Brixton 1 0 1 
			 Norwich 1 1 1 
			 Cardiff 1 1 1 
			 Littlehey 1 1 1 
			 The Weare 1 1 1 
			 Total 5 4 5 
		
	
	
		Financial year 200304
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI 
		
		
			 Brinsford 4 4 4 
			 Bullingdon 1 1 1 
			 Dartmoor 3 3 2 
			 Lindholme 1 1 1 
			 Leicester 1 1 1 
			 Pare 1 0 1 
			 Total 11 10 10 
		
	
	
		Financial year 200405
		
			 Establishment Total escapes Total recaptured Total KPI escapes 
		
		
			 Haverigg 2 2 2 
			 The Verne 3 3 3 
			 Pentonville 1 1 1 
			 Werrington 1 I 1 
			 Stafford 3 2 3 
			 Total 10 9 10

Female Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on resources made available by the Government to families looking after the children of women in prison.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	Lone fathers or others with formal care responsibilities for such children can access the full range of provision available to support children's well-being, regardless of the reason why the mother is absent from the family. These include universal benefits and services, such as child benefit and Sure Start; discretionary payments such as child tax credit; and targeted social services provision based on individual assessments of the children's needs by the relevant local authority.
	DfES is formally committed to working with the Home Office and NOMS on supporting stable family links between prisoners and their partners and children, as part of the Government's action to reduce re-offending.

Female Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of mothers in prison were first-time offenders in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The requested information is not recorded centrally.

Female Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of female prisoners who gave birth in prison were subsequently reunited with their child in the last period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available.
	The Prison Service does not keep records of reunions of mothers and children in the community. All pregnant prisoners who give birth to a baby while serving a prison sentence do so in a local hospital. Some of those mothers will be able to keep the baby with them in a Prison Service Mother and Baby Unit, while others will choose to leave their infant in the care of relatives or other carers, which is likely to result in a reunification of mother and baby. In other cases, babies may be taken into the care of foster carers and Social Services on a temporary basis. The outcome in those cases depends on the decisions of Social Services and the Family Courts.

Firearms

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many criminal incidents it was reported that firearms had been used in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003; and in how many of those incidents the use of handguns was reported.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 29 November 2004
	The available information is given in the table. Because of changes in reporting and recording practices, the data for the two years are not directly comparable.
	
		Crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in which firearms were reported to have been used
		
			 Financial year Crimes in which firearms were used (including air weapons) Crimes in which handguns were used 
		
		
			 199798 12,805 2,636 
			 200304(5507180085) 24,094 5,144 
		
	
	(5507180085) Figures are provisional
	Note:
	1. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998
	2. The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories from this date may have been inflated by this.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department were employed to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Fiona Mactaggart: Managing records and handling requests for information is part of the work carried out by all officials. There are, in addition, a small number dedicated to handling information requests whether under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information or the Data Protection Act. This centre of expertise has also been making preparations for the onset of the Freedom of Information access responsibilities that commence in January 2005 and will then concentrate on handling incoming cases.
	Numbers provided are for staff leading on Information Access (including FOI) issues but do not include staff dealing with routine information requests received across the department. Where peaks of activity resulted in fluctuating numbers of staff within specific years the maximum number of staff has been cited.
	(a) 2001=4, (b) 2002=6, (c) 2003=7, (d) 2004=25.5. Future staffing requirements will be reviewed in 2005 in the light of experience. This will depend on: the number of requests for information received; the complexity of requests, and the number of appeals received. Staff numbers for 2005 are provisional at this stage and are again for staff leading on all Information Access (including FOI) issues. Predictions for 2006 will be made later in 2005.
	(i) 2005=29.5, (ii) 2006=to be reviewed.

Generic Sentences

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding will be available for financial year 200506 to the Probation Service for the introduction of generic sentences.

Paul Goggins: The budget for the National Probation Service has not yet been set for 200506 so it is not yet possible to say how much will be allocated for the generic community sentence.

Halliday Report

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the final conclusions of the Halliday Report on sentencing reform.

Paul Goggins: The Halliday Report (Making Punishments Work), which reviewed the sentencing framework of England and Wales, was published in July 2001. The report recognised the need for widespread changes to the sentencing structure. The Government's response was set out in the 2002 White Paper Justice for All. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 made radical changes to the sentencing framework based heavily on Halliday's recommendations.

HMP Holloway

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners, held in HM Holloway prison, have (a) attempted suicide and (b) committed suicide in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The reasons why people self-injure is complex, and it is difficult to distinguish between acts of self-harm that were attempts at ending life, and those which occurred for other reasons. It is not possible, therefore, for the Prison Service to determine from recorded incidents of self-harm those acts that could be described as attempts at suicide. The following figures for self-harm include all acts of self-harm, however serious.
	
		HMP Holloway
		
			  Number of self-inflicted deaths(5507180086) Number of recorded incidents of self-harm(5507180087) 
		
		
			 1999 2 122 
			 2000 1 245 
			 2001 1 604 
			 2002 1 907 
			 2003 0 (5507180088)958 
		
	
	(5507180086) The Prison Service employs the term self-inflicted death' rather than suicide. This includes all those deaths where it appears the person acted intentionally to take his/her own life.
	(5507180087) These figures record the number of incidents of self-harm, not the number of individuals. Some individuals repeatedly self-harm.
	(5507180088) In December 2002, a new form for reporting self-injury (the F213SH) was introduced across the prisons estate in England and Wales, which is known to have improved reporting practices. Please note therefore that much of the increase in reported self-harm in 2003 may result from the change in reporting procedures rather than reflect an actual increase in incidence of self-harm.
	Up to 2 December 2004, there have been two apparently self-inflicted deaths at Holloway; up to the end of September, 725 incidents of self-harm were reported at the establishment.
	The prison population, and the female prison population in particular, includes a large number of individuals with a combination of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, family background and relationship problems, histories of self-harm and previous abuse, all of which raise their risk of suicide and self-harm. A targeted and separate suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy is being developed for women prisoners.
	Holloway has a First Night in Custody Project that focuses on the needs of women at the vulnerable stage of entry into prison. The Project was established in October 2000 and is run by the Prisoner Advice and Care Trust. It employs a full-time project worker and two link workers to help identify women at risk of self-harm or suicide. The project sees over 100 prisoners a month and makes referrals to services in and outside the prison on housing needs, mental health problems, drug or alcohol problems.
	Holloway is also piloting Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, an innovative programme developed for women with borderline personality disorder who also self-harm or engage in suicidal behaviours.

Home Detention Curfews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were recalled to custody having been released on home detention curfew in (a) each of the last 12 months and (b) each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Prisoners who are subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme can have their licences revoked under the powers available to the Secretary of State provided in sections 38A(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The reasons for revocation are as follows:
	breach of the curfew (section 38A(1 )(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991)
	the prisoner has not breached the curfew, but whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitoredinvariably because of a loss of address (section 38A(1 )(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991)
	it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm (section 38A(1)(c) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991)
	the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any other requirement of probation supervision (section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991). Curfewees who are charged with a new offence may also be recalled on any of the preceding grounds depending upon the circumstances of the case.
	The table gives a breakdown of the number of prisoners who have been recalled to prison while subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme over the past five years and a monthly breakdown for the past 12 months. The total figure is broken down into the various categories of recall as set out previously and includes those prisoners who have not breached the conditions of their licence, but whose whereabouts can no longer be electronically monitored following a change in their circumstances.
	The increase in the number of recalls is an expected consequence of expanding the Home Detention Curfew scheme. Of the 100,345 prisoners placed on the scheme since January 1999, a total of 8,698 have had their licences revoked, which represents 8.7 per cent. of the total.
	These statistics are based on information recorded on the central Prison Service IT system at week ending 24 October 2004. Further updates and amendments may be made to records on this system in future, resulting in revised figures.
	
		Recalls
		
			  Breach of curfew Inability to monitor Risk of serious harm Breach of probation supervision/charged with further offence Total recalls 
		
		
			 1999 484 201 7 10 702 
			 2000 473 215 4 80 772 
			 2001 362 190 0 118 670 
			 2002 808 392 1 274 1,475 
			 2003 1,473 705 0 538 2,716 
			 January to September 2004 1,332 538 0 493 2,363 
			 Total 4,932 2,241 12 1,513 8,698 
			   
			 October 2003 162 70 0 63 295 
			 November 2003 122 58 0 49 229 
			 December 2003 147 66 0 52 265 
			 January 2004 160 61 0 63 284 
			 February 2004 141 61 0 48 250 
			 March 2004 134 62 0 63 259 
			 April 2004 157 54 0 49 260 
			 May 2004 152 70 0 54 276 
			 June 2004 140 53 0 54 247 
			 July 2004 156 73 0 60 289 
			 August 2004 160 45 0 61 266 
			 September 2004 132 59 0 41 232

Hostels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been a review of the Anglia Water contract for hostel facilities.

Paul Goggins: There has been no formal review of the contract, though performance and quality of service levels are routinely assessed and elements are subject to routine audit requirements. The overall programme for in-house and the contracted provision of commercial and approved premises is subject to the Gateway Review process.

Hostels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received about the Anglia Water contract for hostel facilities from those hostels, broken down by category of complaint.

Paul Goggins: There were 1,853 complaints in the 18 months between April 2003 and September 2004. The complaints were categorised as follows:
	
		
			 Category 18 months total per category 
		
		
			 Mechanical and electrical 1,011 
			 Buildings 260 
			 Catering 264 
			 Cleaning 172 
			 Security 7 
			 Other 139 
			 Total 1,853

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the public opinion research conducted by (a) TNS Consumer and (b) Cragg Ross Dawson into identity cards.

Des Browne: The findings of all research conducted by the Identity Cards programme have been published. Summaries of both pieces of research were included in Cm 6358 A Summary of Findings from the Consultation on Legislation on Identity Cards (October 2004). Copies of the public opinion research carried out by TNS Consumer and Cragg Ross Dawson will be placed in the Library.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which categories of individual will be entitled to pay (a) a reduced fee and (b) no fee for an identity card; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 2 December 2004
	The Identity Cards Bill introduced into Parliament on 29 November includes powers to set different levels of fees for identity cards for different circumstances. The Government have said that groups which may benefit from this flexibility include 16 year olds, those on reduced incomes or those who have been in retirement for some time. The final decision on the fee structure and levels of fees will be for Parliament under the powers in clause 37 of the Bill.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to increase the level of charges to individuals for identity cards if the outturn cost of the identity card computer system exceeds his current expectations.

Des Browne: holding answer 2 December 2004
	Clause 37 of the Identity Cards Bill introduced to Parliament on 29 November 2004 includes powers to set fees to recover the costs of the scheme. Some of these fees would apply to individual card holders and some to organisations using the verification service. The Government's intention is that the total fee income from all these sources will cover the running costs of the scheme, though clause 37 does not make this a legal requirement.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce charges for identity cards for those individuals who do not hold a driving licence and who do not hold a passport.

Des Browne: holding answer 2 December 2004
	Clause 37 of the Identity Cards Bill introduced to Parliament on 29 November 2004 includes powers to set fees for identity cards issued alongside designated documents (such as a passport) and for identity cards issued on their own. The Government believes that most people will obtain an identity card in conjunction with a passport and an estimate of this charge was published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published alongside the Bill. Much of this cost would also be incurred in issuing an identity card on its own to a person who did not hold a biometric passport.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the identity card will replace the Application Registration Card.

Des Browne: There are no plans to replace the Application Registration Card (ARC) with the identity card. The ARC and its associated database provides a secure record of a person's claim for asylum and because of the use of biometric information this means that a person cannot make multiple applications using different identities. The ARC does not prove identity.
	When the identity cards scheme is operational, a person whose asylum application was approvedand whose identity had therefore been validatedcould then be issued with a new biometric residence permit card linked to a record on the National Identity Register. The use of biometric information would ensure that a person could not create one identity via the asylum system and another via the identity cards scheme.
	Although there are no plans for the ARC to be a designated document within the terms of the Identity Cards legislation, this would not rule out the possibility that the ARC scheme and the Identity Cards programme might share some common infrastructure.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the research programme of the Identity Cards programme team.

Des Browne: Both quantitative and qualitative research on the public's views on identity cards has been conducted since the start of the first consultation exercise in July 2002. This also included specific research on the views of people from minority ethnic groups. The findings of all research completed to date have been published at www.identitycards.gov.uk
	Research which is currently not ready for publication consists of qualitative research on the public's views on the process of how ID cards will be issued and used and qualitative research to identify the special needs of particular groups which need to be incorporated into the design of the scheme, for example ensuring that the enrolment facilities can be used by people with disabilities.
	Research which is planned but not yet commissioned will also be undertaken in early 2005 on how passport holders' will react to the new processes for issuing more secure passports and later ID cards. For example, will this encourage them to renew their passport earlier than planned? Quantitative research will also be undertaken as part of regular surveys on broader Home Office issues.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private sector (a) secondees and (b) consultants are employed by the Identity Cards Programme Team, broken down by company.

Des Browne: On 1 December 2004, the Identity Cards Programme employed (a) one private sector secondee from Shreeveport Management Consultancy and (b) 40 consultants from PA Consulting Group Ltd.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) staff from his Department, (b) staff from other Departments and (c) private sector secondees are employed in the development of the Identity Cards Programme.

Des Browne: As of 1 December 2004, the Identity Cards Programme employed (a) 39 civil servants, (b) two secondees from other public sector organisationsone from the Metropolitan Police Service and one from the UK Passport Service and (c) one private sector secondee from Shreeveport Management Consultants.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the external consultants which have carried out work as part of the Identity Cards Programme.

Des Browne: The Identity Cards Programme has received consultancy services from the following organisations: Axon Group; Cornwell Management Consultants; PA Consulting Services Ltd.; SchlumbergerSema (now known-as Atos Origin); Shreeveport Management Consultancy; Sirius Consortium
	Additionally the programme has received consultancy advice from the following Government sources: Communications Electronic Security Group (GCHQ); Office of Government Commerce; Partnerships UK plc; UK Passport Service.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the number of identity cards that will have to be reissued each year to accommodate a change of address by the holder and (b) the number of identity cards that may be lost or stolen each year; and what estimate he has made of the charge for reissuing an identity card to the holder in each circumstance.

Des Browne: The estimates used by the Identity Cards programme are: (a) 14 per cent. of card holders in any given year will change address. Change of address will not necessarily require a replacement card. 0.5 per cent. of card holders will require a replacement card due to change of name or other personal detail shown on the face of the card; (b) 2 per cent. of those enrolled in any given year will need a replacement due to their card being lost, stolen or damaged; (c) no decision has been taken on whether to charge for reissuing cards in these circumstances.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the number of identity cards issued each year which may contain erroneous information, (b) the number of centres required for the registering of biometric details of British citizens requiring an ID card and (c) the annual cost of maintaining each such centre.

Des Browne: No estimate has been made of the number of ID cards that will be issued each year with erroneous information. Our current best estimate is that between 70 and 100 offices of various sizes will be required to register biometric details for both biometric passports and ID cards. In addition to fixed sites, we are assessing how cost effective it will be to use mobile enrolment centres to provide increased coverage. The estimate of the annual cost of maintaining such centres is included in the running cost figures quoted in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published when the Bill was introduced. The estimate of the proportion attributable to the cost of enrolment centres has not been placed in the public domain for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to be prosecuted each year for failing (a) to register with the National Identity Register (NIR), (b) to renew an identity card and (c) to supply amended details to the NIR.

Des Browne: There will be no prosecutions for failing (a) to register with the National Identity Register (NIR), (b) to renew an ID card and (c) to supply amended details to the NIR. Each of these requirements will be enforced via civil penalties.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the likely fees to be charged for (a) the modification of identity cards, (b) making or modifying entries on identity cards, (c) the issue of identity cards, (d) applications for provision of information contained on the Information Register, (e) provision of information from the Information Register, (f) applications for confirmation of information recorded on the Information Register, (g) the issue or refusal of such a confirmation of information from the Information Register, (h) applications for the approval of a person or apparatus (the accreditation) and (i) the grant of such approvals.

Des Browne: The best current estimate of the fee for a combined package of a 10-year passport and ID card is 85. The charges for the other services described in the question are subject to future policy decisions on charging and further work on demand and volumes. While the Identity Cards Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 29 November 2004, provides powers to charge for such services there is no automatic presumption that charges will apply in all of these circumstances.

Identity Cards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has under his scheme to introduce identity cards and a national database to record and check the identities of third country nationals who enter the United Kingdom via the border with Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications for the British/Irish Common Travel Area of his proposed scheme for identity cards and a national database.

Des Browne: holding answer 1.3 December 2004
	The principle of the Common Travel Area will be unchanged by the introduction of identity cards. All third country nationals who have permission to stay in the UK for more than three months, irrespective of their point of entry, will be required to enrol on the register at the three month point.

Identity Cards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how Irish citizens who are (a) resident in and (b) visiting the United Kingdom would be affected by his proposed national identity card and database.

Des Browne: holding answer 13 December 2004
	The identity cards scheme will apply to all British nationals resident in the UK and to all foreign nationals resident for more than three months. The status of Irish nationals, under existing arrangements (including EU free movement legislation for those who wish to be considered as EU nationals) will be unaffected by these proposals.

Identity Cards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his Irish counterpart about the proposals for a national identity card and database; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 13 December 2004
	There have been contacts at both ministerial and official level between the UK and Irish Governments since the proposals were first under consideration.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the number of employees additional to his Department's current complement required to run the National Identity Register (NIR) and (b) the annual salary bill of the employees of the NIR.

Des Browne: At this stage in the planning for the scheme it is too early to determine the split of staff between civil servants and private sector staff.

Identity Cards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional office accommodation will be required to house the employees of the National Identity Register; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such additional accommodation.

Des Browne: Additional accommodation will be required for the biometric enrolment centres, some will be permanent, other accommodation will be temporary for mobile centres. Work is under way within the Identity Cards programme to determine the extent to which current Government accommodation can be used by the Identity Cards Programme. The cost assumptions and cost estimates that are being used pending completion of this work have not been placed in the public domain for reasons of commercial confidentiality but the cost is covered within the estimates published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Identity Cards (Scotland)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland with regard to identity cards.

Des Browne: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has consulted the First Minister throughout the development of policy on identity cards. Both the draft Bill published earlier this year and the Identity Cards Bill which was introduced to Parliament on 29 November 2004 make clear the rights of the Westminster Parliament to legislate for the introduction of identity cards throughout the United Kingdom but to leave decisions on how they are used by public services for which the Scottish Parliament is responsible to that Parliament.

Identity Cards (Scotland)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions for introduction of identity cards in Scotland will be the same as for the rest of the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: The Identity Cards Bill applies to the whole of the United Kingdom. This includes provision for the registration for identity cards, including the power to make it a requirement to register, to apply throughout the UK.
	The Bill also allows for required identity checks regulations to be made for public services that are within the competence of the Westminster Parliament. Regulations for public services that fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament will be a matter for that Parliament.

Identity Fraud

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extent of identity fraud in (a) the UK, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) Spain and (e) Sweden.

Des Browne: It is not a criminal offence for a person simply to use another identity, but false identities are used often to facilitate other offences such as deception and money laundering. The police do not record incidents of identity fraud because prosecutions are recorded for the offences facilitated by false identities. However, a Cabinet Office study published in 2002 estimated the cost of identity fraud in the UK to be 1.3 billion. No estimate has been by the Home Office of the extent of identity fraud in France, Germany, Spain or Sweden.

Illegal Workers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been carried out against employers for employing illegal workers in each year since 1993.

Des Browne: The latest available information on the number of persons proceeded against and those found guilty under section 8 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1996 is shown in the table.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against and those found guilty of offences under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, England and Wales 1997 to 2003
		
			 Offence description(5507180089) Statute Year Persons(5507180089) proceeded against Persons(5507180089)found guilty 
		
		
			 Employing a person subject to immigration Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 1997 1997 (5507180090) (5507180090) 
			 control who has attained the age of 16. section 8. 1998 1998 1 1 
			   1999 4 1 
			   2000 10 4 
			   2001 5 1 
			   2002 2 1 
			   (5507180091)2003 2 1 
		
	
	(5507180089) Principal immigration offence
	(5507180090) Not applicable
	(5507180091) Provisional figures
	Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 first introduced the offence of employing illegal migrant workers and it came into force on 27 January 1997. No figures are therefore available for the years prior to this date.

Immigration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for exceptional leave to remain in 2003 were determined (a) within one month of the date of application, (b) within two to six months, (c) within seven to 12 months, (d) within 13 to 24 months and (e) not within 24 months.

Des Browne: 7,210 initial asylum decisions were granted Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR), Humanitarian Protection (HP) or Discretionary Leave (DL) 1 in 2003. The table shows the time taken for these initial decisions.
	1 Humanitarian Protection (HP) and Discretionary Leave (DL) replaced Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR) from 1 April 2003.
	
		Grants of ELR, HP or DL in 2003 by time taken to initial decision(5507180092)
		
			 Length to time to initial decision for ELR, HP or DL in 2003 Percentage 
		
		
			 29 days or less 11 
			 One month to less than two months 55 
			 Two months to less than six months 19 
			 Six months to less than one year 8 
			 One year to less than two years 3 
			 Two years or more 5 
		
	
	(5507180092) Figures are provisional.
	82 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in 200304 (April 2003 to March 2004) had initial decisions reached and served within two months. This exceeded the Government's target of 75 per cent. for 200304.
	Information on asylum initial decisions and timeliness of initial decisions are published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Immigration

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he proposes to make to the House of Lords judgment of 8 December in connection with discrimination by the immigration service against Roma people intending to travel to the UK from the Czech Republic; and what instructions he has issued to discontinue such practices.

Des Browne: Although the judgment found that Immigration Officers operating pre-clearance at Prague airport in 2001 had discriminated against Roma people, it also found that they were not in breach of international law in refusing passengers entry to claim asylum. The scheme was operated two years ago as a short-term response to a high level of immigration abuse by passengers travelling from Prague. It was always intended that the pre-clearance arrangements would be operated in a non- discriminatory manner in relation to ethnic or national origin.
	We will be studying the judgment carefully for any implications it may have as to our future operations, but it is important to note that this case relates specifically to immigration controls no longer in operation following the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union.

Immigration Officials

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) immigration and (b) security officials have been based at each major port of entry to the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: (a) The number of immigration officials working at the major ports of entry to the UK since 1997 are set out in the table:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Heathrow (5507180093)618 900.3 841 836.3 832.3 925.5 1005 1040.4 
			 Gatwick (5507180094) 317.8 336 379.9 376.1 427.6 434.1 406.3 
			 Dover (5507180093)255 (5507180093)309.5 (5507180093)308.9 (5507180093)338.3 396.3 491.3 709.3 898.6 
			 Stansted (5507180093)47.8 57.8 53.8 58 59.3 62.6 73.8 90.2 
			 Manchester (5507180094) (5507180094) 84.1 86.1 86.9 97.6 74.2 90.2 
			 Birmingham (5507180094) (5507180093)25 38 37.8 45.6 45.8 44.7 49.9 
			 Waterloo (5507180094) 124 118.8 116.7 104.1 137.2 163.6 119.8 
		
	
	(5507180093) Complete figures are not available
	(5507180094) No figures available for this year
	Immigration officials is taken to mean staff employed in the following grades: assistant immigration officer, immigration officer, chief immigration officer and immigration inspector.
	(b) The deployment of security personnel is a matter for individual airports and maritime ports of entry into the UK and as such information about the number of security staff they employ is not held centrally. Government inspectors with responsibility for transport security work closely with industry to ensure that they have the necessary protective security measures.

Immigration Officials

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigative officers from the Immigration Service work (a) full-time and (b) part-time within Scotland.

Des Browne: holding answer 30 November 2004
	There are 43 Immigration Service officers currently undertaking enforcement duties in Scotland. Of these two are part-time workers. In addition there are 11 Immigration Service officers working alongside four dedicated police officers in the Immigration Service's Intelligence Unit in Scotland. This figure is projected to rise to 17 shortly.
	Although enforcement officers in the Immigration Service investigate immigration offences, the police currently take prosecutions against immigration offenders through the Scottish courts working closely with immigration officials in Local Enforcement Offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The Immigration Service is currently reviewing its criminal investigation capabilities and the role that the police play in them. This will include a review of the arrangements currently in place in Scotland.

Immigration Removals

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons removed under immigration legislation to other countries have been returned to the UK by those countries in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what action was then taken in respect of each case; what safeguards are in place (a) to monitor the actions of escorting officers and (b) to prevent abuse by them of those they are escorting; how many reports have been received about incidences of abuse; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: In the last 12 months a total of 12 individuals removed under immigration legislation have been returned to the UK.
	Responsibility for each case is taken by the port of arrival in the UK in conjunction with the removing office. Cases are examined on an individual basis and the course of action is subsequently determined.
	The Contractors responsible for escorting of detainees are subject to oversight by Contract Monitors. The Monitors oversee the work on routine visits to ports and removal centres, and also attend contractors training courses to ensure appropriate training is provided. All incidents involving use of force are recorded and examined by the Contract Monitor. Any allegations of improper treatment is subject to investigation, and where this involves any alleged assault this will be referred to the police for a separate investigation.
	During 2004 to date there have been 71 allegations of improper treatment made by detainees.

IND Case

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when officials at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to letters from the hon. Member for Vauxhall dated 9 March and 18 October, about a constituent, reference number: N1006256.

Des Browne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 6 January.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated to the Home Office Accounting and Finance Unit in each of the last two years; and how many staff have been employed by the Unit in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: In the financial year 200304, the Home Office Accounting and Finance Unit spent 3.5 million and employed 106 staff. The budget for 200405 is 2.569 million and 73 staff are employed.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated to the National Criminal Justice Board in each of the last two years; and how many staff have been employed by the Board.

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Criminal Justice Board is not an organisation with a budget employing staff. It is an advisory body formed of the Criminal Justice System Ministers, permanent secretaries and agency heads.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated to the National Asylum Support Service in each of the last two years; and how many staff have been employed by the Service in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year  million Head count 
		
		
			 Outturn 200304 1,062 1192 
			 Budget 200405 793 1,217

Internet Pornography

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings he has had with (a) the police, (b) internet service providers, (c) overseas crime enforcement agencies and (d) others on violent internet pornography; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: In considering what action can be taken in respect of extreme pornographic material accessed on the internet, Home Office officials have had discussions with the police, prosecutors and others over the last six months. The matter has also been considered by sub-groups of the Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.

Invoice Payments

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was between the date of invoices issued to his Department from a supplier and payment by the Department of the invoice in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentage of these invoices were paid within 30 days of the date of issue of the invoice; what percentage of these invoices remained unpaid after 90 days; and if he will make a statement on the Department's policy on the payment of invoices issued to it.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is set out in the table:
	
		Payment performance for 200304
		
			  Total invoices On time 31 to 60 days 61 to 89 days 90+ days 
		
		
			 1st Quarter 55,461 40,636 11,517 1,848 1,460 
			 2nd Quarter 56,696 44,560 8,865 1,561 1,710 
			 3rd Quarter 57,005 46,725 7,729 1,203 1,348 
			 4th Quarter 62,798 50,082 9,367 1,590 1,759 
			 Total 231,960 182,003 37,478 6,202 6,277 
			   
			 Percentage 100.00 78.46 16.16 2.67 2.70 
		
	
	The Home Office payment policy is to pay invoices within 30 days of receipt and agreement of a valid invoice properly supported with proof of delivery of the goods, services and works requested. The Home Office is a signatory to the Better Payment Practice Code. The Department's payment performance is reported in its annual report.

Jesline Chikuku

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reach a decision on the case of Jesline Chikuku of Valkyrie Road, Southend, reference C1070991DMC.

Des Browne: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is currently considering Mrs. Chikuku's case as a priority. Mrs. Chikuku will be notified of the outcome on her case in writing once a decision has been made.

IT (Disciplinary Procedures)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures, so far as information is available in the form requested, are as follows:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			  (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) 
		
		
			 HO n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 4 4 
			 IND n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 1 
			 FSS n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 5 1 1 
			 UKPRS nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil 
			 HMPS(5507180095) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
			  (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) 
		
		
			 HO 3 3 6 7 2 2 nil nil 
			 IND 7 4 74 57 20 10 26 8 
			 FSS 2 2 5 5 1 1 23 23 
			 UKPRS nil nil nil nil 4 15 nil nil 
			 HMPS(5507180096) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	(5507180095)Figures for HMPS are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	(5507180096)Figures for HMPS are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Note:
	(a) Staff receiving official warnings following breaches of IT policy.
	(b) Staff facing disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy.
	HOnon-Agency Home Office
	INDImmigration and Nationality Directorate
	FSSForensic Science Service
	UKPRSUnited Kingdom Passport and Records Service
	HMPSHer Majesty's Prison Service

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which groups lost their exemption from jury service under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Paul Goggins: Schedule 1 to the Juries Act 1974 provided that various classes of person either must not or need not serve on a jury. Those who were ineligiblethat is, not qualified to serveincluded the judiciary, others (including prison officers) concerned with the administration of justice, the clergy and the mentally ill. Certain other groups of people were excusable as of rightthat is, they had the right to refuse to do jury service if they so wished; these included persons aged between 65 and 69, members and peers of Parliament, the armed forces, members of the medical and similar professions, and people with religious objections.
	Sir Robin Auld argued in his Review of the Criminal Courts
	that these exemptions and excusals deprived juries of the experience and skills of a wide range of professional people
	and he recommended that the categories of ineligibility and excusal as of right set out in the Juries Act should be abolished, with the exception of those with mental disorders, who should continue to be ineligible for jury service. These changes were brought into effect on 5 April 2004 when section 321 of and Schedule 33 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 were implemented.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation took place with prison officer unions on proposals to allow prison officers to serve on juries.

Paul Goggins: A general consultation exercise on the recommendations of the Review of the Criminal Courts, including those about jury service, took place in the Autumn of 2001 and the prison service unions had the opportunity to respond.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protection he plans to provide to prison officers who serve in the same prison as a person convicted by a jury on which they served.

Paul Goggins: Prison officers who are summoned to carry out jury service at a court that normally sends convicted persons to the establishment where they work may ask to serve at a different court. Officers who nevertheless find that someone in whose case they have served on the jury is then sent to the prison where they work should raise the matter with management should any difficulties arise as a result.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove the right of prison officers to claim exemption from jury service.

Paul Goggins: Prison officers were formerly ineligible for jury service, but ceased to be so on 5 April 2004. It is open to them, as it is to anyone who feels they should not be expected to serve as a juror, to apply to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau, which administers a jury summoning service for the whole of England and Wales. They will need to show that they have good reason to defer their service or be excused from serving.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department received from the Law Society on whether or not to exempt prison officers from jury service; and if he will publish them.

Paul Goggins: The Law Society was in favour of wider eligibility for jury service, but opposed making those who work in the criminal justice system eligible to serve, although the Society did not refer specifically to prison officers.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of costs incurred by the Prison Service in loss of time when prison officers (a) serve on a jury and (b) attend jury selection.

Paul Goggins: No such estimates have been made.

Jury Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison officers summoned to attend jury selection were rejected for jury service as a result of their occupation in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: This information is not recorded.

Knives

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) the police and (b) local authorities regarding people carrying knives.

Caroline Flint: Officials have had discussions with the police and trading standards officers as part of our review of action needed to tackle crime committed with knives.

Knives

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sentences are available to judges for under-age carrying of knives.

Paul Goggins: The offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. Certain knives, such as flick-knives, are categorised as offensive weapons. Possession of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse carries a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment.
	18 to 20 year olds can receive a sentence of Detention in a Young Offenders Institution up to the maximum period of imprisonment available in the case of an over-21 year old. Offenders under 18 can receive a Detention and Training Order of up to 24 months for either of these offences.

Knives

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to sentencing provisions the Government plans in its proposals for the under-aged carrying of knives.

Caroline Flint: We are currently considering what more needs to be done to tackle knife-related crime. This includes reviewing the current legislation and penalties to deal with the carrying of knives and other offensive weapons.

Law of Murder

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has in the forthcoming review of the law of murder to implement the recommendations of the recent Law Commission Report to distinguish between sentencing for different types of murder.

Paul Goggins: Following the statement made by the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), to the House on 28 October 2004, Official Report, column 1579, on the setting up of a review of murder, we are currently considering the full terms of reference for the review and will be announcing these in due course.

Life Sentences

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women are serving a life prison sentence in prisons in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: On 31 October 2004, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system, there were 5,520 males and 182 females serving life sentences in prison establishments in England and Wales.

Malwina Luczak

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the application of Dr. Malwina Luczak, Ref No. L1015769, for permanent leave to remain, which was received by the Data Processing Team NO DPT4 at Lunar House, Croydon, in September, was not processed until 14 October; which charged-leave team is handling this application; and when he expects the application to be determined.

Des Browne: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The application took eight working days to be forwarded to a case working team due to the influx of applications coming into the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at that time.
	Dr. Luczak's application will now be decided by one of our European case working teams who will contact her if more information is required. They only deal with non-charged applications.

Miss Hajah Kamara

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Miss Hajah Kamara, reference K472827, has not had her passport returned; and for what reasons the Royal College of Nursing has not received a response to a complaint made to the Briefing and Complaints Section which was acknowledged on 7 October.

Des Browne: holding answer 14 December 2004
	Regrettably, a request to return Miss Kamara's passport was overlooked and the file placed in a queue awaiting decision. She was granted indefinite leave to remain on 13 December 2004 when her endorsed passport was returned.
	I am sorry that no reply has been sent to the compliant from the Royal College of Nursing. Although the letter was acknowledged on 7 October, there is no record of it on the Briefing and Complaints Section database. A thorough search has been undertaken but regrettably the letter cannot be found.

Miss Mapolisa

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Miss Mapolisa will receive the necessary paperwork showing the changed conditions that will allow her to enter employment referred to in his Department's letter of the 29 October, reference M1093836.

Des Browne: The paperwork relating to this matter was sent to Miss Mapolisa on the 14 December 2004.

Mobile Phones

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will encourage the mobile industry to protect children from undesirable content and unwanted contacts online by installing filtering and blocking technology as a default option.

Paul Goggins: We do encourage the mobile industry to do whatever it can to protect children from undesirable content and unwanted contact. The major providers have been very willing to work with us in this area, and are working toward implementation of the code of practice on new forms of content which they introduced earlier this year. Under this code operators will self-classify commercial content and will place all content deemed unsuitable for people under 18 behind access controls. Since internet content will not be self-classifiable in this way, they will offer customers the opportunity to apply a filter working to equivalent standards.

Mobile Phones

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police forces on the enforcement of laws relating to driving while using a mobile phone.

Caroline Flint: The new, specific offence of using a hand-held phone while driving is intended to provide a simple, objective offence, the enforcement and prosecution of which does not depend on judgments of control or carelessness. The Association of Chief Police Officers have welcomed it as a straightforward method of dealing with this dangerous behaviour. The police will enforce the offence as operationally appropriate, and no specific guidance has been issued by the Government.

Mobile Phones

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he monitors the use by Government agencies of mobile phones to track the whereabouts of individuals.

Caroline Flint: Chapter II of Part I of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides a statutory framework for the lawful acquisition of communications data by specified relevant public authorities. Some, not all, of those authorities may acquire data about the location of a mobile phone when necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate aim. The exercise and performance of the powers under Chapter II of the 2000 Act is overseen by the Interception of Communications Commissioner (currently the right hon. Sir Swinton Thomas) not by the Secretary of State. The Commissioner is required by the Act to report annually to the Prime Minister about the carrying out of the Commissioner's functions. That report is laid before each House of Parliament.

Motoring Offences

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of uninsured drivers in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) police authority region.

Caroline Flint: No estimates have been made centrally on the number of uninsured drivers.

Mr. Christopher Rodway

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the inquest into the death of Mr. Christopher Rodway to take place.

Paul Goggins: The timing of this inquest is a matter for the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner. I understand that no date has yet been fixed.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Offender Management Information Project will be the subject of a Gateway Review.

Paul Goggins: A Gateway 1 Review (business justification) was undertaken this autumn.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a Gateway Zero Report was (a) commissioned and (b) completed at the launch of the National Offender Management Service in January.

Paul Goggins: The pre-Gateway Review was carried out over the summer. The Gateway Review 0-Strategic Assessment will commence on 17 January 2005.

National Offender Management Service

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the implications of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: Procedures have been put in place to ensure that the National Offender Management Service is fully compliant with the Freedom of Information Act when it comes into full force on 1 January.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the responses to the consultation on the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: There have been two formal consultations about the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) since January 2004. The first followed the publication of Reducing CrimeChanging Lives, the Government's response to Patrick Carter's review of Correctional Services; the second was in connection with the proposed organisational design of NOMS.
	In accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation, a summary analysis and response has been prepared. It was announced to Parliament on Tuesday 26 October and is available in the Library of each House. It has also been made available to staff and key stakeholders through the prisons, probation and Home Office websites.

National Offender Management Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the duties of regional offender managers in the National Offender Management Service for each region in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: The job specifications and selection criteria for the recently appointed Regional Offender Managers were contained in the information pack sent to prospective candidates. A copy of that information pack has been placed in the House of Commons Library

National Offender Management Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Gateway Zero inquiry into the National Offender Management Service will be completed.

Paul Goggins: The Gateway Zero Review is scheduled to commence on 17 January 2005. It is expected that it will be completed within a week.

National Offender Management Service

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Probation Service Pay and Rewards Review and the Workload Measurement Tool will be implemented before the full introduction of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: I remain committed to the early implementation of a negotiated, affordable, modernised pay and reward structure for the National Probation Service (NPS).
	The workload measurement tool (WMT) is currently being piloted with the possibility of a third metropolitan area joining the pilot. Decisions about the implementation of the workload measurement tool across the NPS will not be taken without determining that the tool is fit for purpose in relation to the requirements of orders imposed under the Criminal Justice Act. The project will be the subject of a full financial appraisal and a detailed business case will need to be established. This current phase of work is scheduled for completion by April 2005.
	The Probation Boards' Association and the NFS' trade unions are all represented on the WMT's Project Board and are aware of the time scales associated with the project.

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what local infrastructure will exist for the proposed public sector interventions arm of the reformed Probation Service in England and Wales under the National Offender Management Service proposals.

Paul Goggins: It has always been our intention to split Offender Management and Interventions within the National Offender Management Service. A final decision on the appropriate organisational structure for the public sector provision of interventions has not yet been made.

National Offender Management Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will be producing a business case which will explain how contestability will improve service delivery in relation to reducing offending and reducing the numbers in custody.

Paul Goggins: The detailed Business Case which is currently being developed will include a full explanation of all aspects of the contestability process.

National Offender Management Service

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether sentencing practice will be changed prior to the implementation of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: Sentencing practice will change through the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council and the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The Council is responsible for producing comprehensive guidelines for all courts, which will provide clarity and consistency in sentencing. The Council was established in March 2004 and its first priority was to produce guidelines on the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. These were published on 16 December.

Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) names and (b) occupations of the members of the Advisory Board on Nationalisation and Integration; and what the remit is of the Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration.

Des Browne: The Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Integration (ABNI) is an advisory non-departmental public body. Its terms of reference are:
	To advise on the implementation and processes of initial and final assessment of understanding of language and of civic structures as required by the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
	To advise on ways in which language and citizenship education resources and support services both in the public and in the voluntary might be developed and better co-ordinated.
	To advise on future development of the programme of studies and suggest changes in light of feedback from early participants.
	To publish an annual report on the administration of the learning and teaching processes involved in naturalisation, on the integration of immigrants, and on immigration law and procedures and educational regulations that directly affect assessment for naturalisation.
	
		Members of the ABNI
		
			 Member Occupation 
		
		
			 Professor Sir Bernard Crick, Chair Emeritus Professor of Politics, Birkbeck College, University of London 
			 Ms. Mary Coussey, Vice-Chair Independent Race Monitor to the Immigration Service and Equality and Diversity consultant 
			 Ms. Celine Castelino Head of ESOL Development at the Basic Skills Agency 
			 Mrs. Mary Curnock Cook Director of Qualifications and Skills, at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) 
			 Ms. Sally Daghlian Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council: Trustee of the British Refugee Council 
			 Sir Robert Dowling Head teacher of an inner city comprehensive school 
			 Ms. Samina Khan County Community Education Officer(Essential Skills, Cardiff 
			 Mrs. Janet Luff Curriculum Manager for ESOL at Liverpool Community College 
			 Ms. Adeeba Malik Deputy Chief Executive of QED(UK 
			 Professor Elizabeth Meehan Professor of Politics and Jean Monnet Professor at Queens' University Belfast, and Director of the Institute of Governance, Public Policy and Social Research 
			 Dr. Robert David Muir Independent consultant, specialising in diversity training 
			 Sir Gulam Noon Chairman of the Noon Group, The Noon Foundation, and Noon Products Ltd. Managing Director of Bombay Halwa Ltd. 
			 Mr. Ashok Ohri Self-employed consultant and trainer in the field of community development. Co-director of Organisation and Social Development Consultants Ltd. 
			 Ms. Maeve Sherlock Chief Executive of the Refugee Council. 
			 Mrs. Jean Wilson On secondment to the Scottish Qualifications Authority as ESOL Development Officer. Co-chair of the National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults (NATECLA). 
			 Mr. Patrick Wintour Director of the Employability Forum: Member of the National Refugee Integration Forum. 
			 Ms. Annette Zera Freelance facilitator and trainer in organisational development. Previously, Principal of Tower Hamlets College.

New Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether private sector companies will be invited to bid for the new prison establishment in Elmet constituency.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Although site searches have been conducted, no decisions have yet been made about the locations at which sites for new prisons may be purchased.

New Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 December 204, Official Report, column 410W, on new prisons, on what date the meeting with the hon. Member for Elmet (Colin Burgon) was first suggested; and whether the meeting was initiated by the Minister.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 December 2004
	The hon. Member for Elmet (Colin Burgon) requested a meeting with me on Friday 12 November. We met on Thursday 18 November.

Northern Ireland (Immigration Procedures)

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the effect on immigration to Northern Ireland of different admission criteria used by immigration officers in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: holding answer 16 December 2004
	Immigration policy in relation to Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government. However, there is ongoing close co-operation between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom to ensure that foreign nationals cannot abuse the immigration controls of either country. This close co-operation has included a recent detailed assessment of foreign nationals travelling between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland through Northern Ireland. The results of this assessment are currently being evaluated.

Oakington Reception Centre

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to ensure that adequate access to education is being provided to children detained at Oakington Reception Centre.

Des Browne: Education facilities are provided for children between the ages of five and 17 years within the Family Unit. Classes take place every weekday between 09:00 and 15:30 hours and continue throughout school holidays, apart from bank holidays.
	Qualified teachers provide a range of activities meeting the core requirements of the National Curriculum, including English, mathematics, IT skills and physical education.

Oasys IT System

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the original costings were for connecting the Prison Service and the Probation Services' Oasys IT systems; and whether they have been revised.

Paul Goggins: The initial IT development estimates were 2.9 million for the Prison Service and 2.4 million for the Probation Service. The latest forecast of outturn for IT development is 3.5 million for the Prison Service and 2.7 million for the Probation Service.

Oasys IT System

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Oasys system will apply to those sentenced to less than 12 months imprisonment.

Paul Goggins: Oasys assessments for those sentenced to less than 12 months imprisonment, are only a mandatory requirement for young adult offenders, aged 18 to 20. However, some adult short-term prisoners will have had an initial Oasys prepared by the National Probation Service as part of a pre-sentence report, and this will be available to the Prison Service. This policy will be reviewed as we prepare for the introduction of Custody Plus.
	Some prisons currently provide custody plans or prisoner passports, which focus on resettlement issues, for adults serving short sentences. This is good practice although not mandatory.

Offender Behaviour Programmes

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offender behaviour programmes available at each prison establishment.

Paul Goggins: The accredited offending behaviour and drug treatment programmes delivered by each establishment are shown in the following tables but may be subject to change.
	
		Offending behaviour programmes by establishment
		
			 Establishment ETS CSB CALM CSCP DV SOTP 
		
		
			 Acklington YesYes Yes 
			 Albany Yes YesYes 
			 Altcourse (p) (5507180097)  
			 Ashfield (p)   
			 Ashwell Yes  
			 Askham Grange   
			 Aylesbury Yes  Yes   Yes 
			 Bedford   
			 Belmarsh   
			 Birmingham   
			 Blakenhurst Yes (5507180097) 
			 Blantyre House   
			 Blundeston Yes  Yes
			 Brinsford Yes  
			 Bristol Yes  Yes
			 Brixton (5507180097)  
			 Brockhill   
			 Buckley Hall Yes Yes 
			 Bullingdon Yes  
			 Bullwood Hall Yes  
			 Camp Hill Yes  Yes
			 Canterbury (5507180097)  
			 Cardiff Yes  Yes
			 Castington Yes  
			 Channings Wood Yes   Yes  Yes 
			 Chelmsford Yes  
			 Coldingley (5507180097)  
			 Cookham Wood (5507180097)  
			 Dartmoor Yes  Yes
			 Deerbolt Yes  
			 Doncaster (p) (5507180097)  
			 Dorchester (5507180097)  
			 Dovegate (p) Yes (5507180097) 
			 Dover   
			 Downview Yes  
			 Drake Hall Yes Yes 
			 Durham   
			 Eastwood Park (5507180097)  
			 Edmonds Hill (5507180097)  
			 Elmley Yes Yes 
			 Erlestoke YesYes  
			 Everthorpe Yes  
			 Exeter Yes  
			 Featherstone Yes  Yes
			 Feltham Yes  
			 Ford (5507180097)  
			 Forest Bank (p) (5507180097)  
			 Foston Hall Yes  
			 Frankland Yes Yes 
			 Full Sutton Yes Yes 
			 Garth Yes  Yes
			 Gartree Yes  Yes Yes Yes  
			 Glen Parva Yes  
			 Gloucester   
			 Grendon/Spring Hill   
			 Guys Marsh Yes  (5507180097)
			 Haslar   
			 Haverigg Camp   
			 Hewell Grange   
			 High Down (5507180097)  (5507180097)
			 Highpoint (adult male) Yes Yes (5507180097)
			 Hindley Yes  (5507180097)
			 Hollesley Bay   
			 Holloway   
			 Holme House Yes  
			 Hull Yes Yes 
			 Huntercombe   
			 Kingston   Yes Yes   
			 Kirkham   
			 Kirklevington   
			 Lancaster Castle   
			 Lancaster Farms Yes  
			 Latchmere House   
			 Leeds   
			 Leicester (5507180097)  
			 Lewes (5507180097)  
			 Leyhill Yes YesYes 
			 Lincoln (5507180097)  
			 Lindholme Yes  
			 Littlehey Yes Yes 
			 Liverpool Yes  
			 Long Lartin Yes  Yes Yes   
			 Low Newton Yes  
			 Lowdham Grange (p) Yes  
			 Maidstone Yes Yes 
			 Manchester YesYes Yes 
			 Moorland Yes  Yes
			 Morton Hall   
			 New Hall Yes  
			 North Sea Camp   
			 Northallerton   
			 Norwich Yes Yes 
			 Nottingham (5507180097)  
			 Onley Yes  
			 Parc (p) Yes Yes 
			 Parkhurst Yes  Yes Yes   
			 Pentonville Yes  Yes
			 Portland Yes  
			 Preston Yes  
			 Ranby Yes  Yes
			 Reading Yes  
			 Risley Yes  Yes   Yes 
			 Rochester (5507180097)  
			 Rye hill (p) Yes Yes 
			 Send Yes  
			 Shepton Mallet Yes Yes 
			 Shrewsbury   
			 Stafford Yes Yes 
			 Standford Hill (5507180097)  
			 Stocken Yes  Yes
			 Stoke Heath Yes  
			 Styal Yes  
			 Sudbury (5507180097) (5507180097) 
			 Swaleside Yes Yes Yes Yes   
			 Swansea Yes  
			 Swinfen Hall Yes  Yes   Yes 
			 The Mount Yes  Yes
			 The Verne Yes  
			 The Wolds (p) Yes Yes Yes
			 Thorn Cross Yes  
			 Usk/Prescoed Yes YesYes 
			 Wakefield Yes Yes 
			 Wandsworth Yes Yes 
			 Warren Hill   
			 Wayland Yes Yes 
			 Wealstun Yes  
			 Weare   
			 Wellingborough Yes Yes 
			 Werrington   
			 Wetherby   
			 Whatton Yes Yes 
			 Whitemoor Yes  Yes
			 Winchester Yes  (5507180097)
			 Woodhill Yes (5507180097) 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Yes (5507180097) 
			 Wymott Yes YesYes 
		
	
	Yes = Establishments which are currently delivering and will deliver 200506.
	(5507180097) Establishments which were delivering in 200304 and will cease to deliver during 200405.
	ETSEnhanced Thinking Skills
	CSBCognitive Skills Booster
	CALMControlling Anger and Learning to Manage it
	CSCPCognitive Self-Change Programme
	DVDomestic Violence (aka Healthy Relationships)
	SOTPSex Offender Treatment Programmes
	
		Drug programmes
		
			 Establishment New programmes funded by NDPDU Existing PASRO/SDP Other exiting programmes 
		
		
			 Acklington   AOD 
			 Altcourse SDP  STOP 
			 Ashfield (J)   Validated 
			 Ashwell  PASRO  
			 Aylesbury (Yes)   RAPT 
			 Bedford  SDP  
			 Birmingham SDP  (5507180098) 
			 Blakenhurst  SDP  
			 Blundeston PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Bristol   Validated 
			 Brixton  PASRO  
			 Brixton  SDP  
			 Bullingdon SDP  Ley 
			 Bullwood Hall (F)   AOD 
			 Camp Hill PASRO   
			 Canterbury PASRO   
			 Cardiff  PASRO  
			 Castington (Yes) SDP   
			 Channings Wood   TC 
			 Chelmsford  PASRO  
			 Coldingley   RAPT 
			 Cookham Wood (F) PASRO   
			 Dartmoor  PASRO  
			 Deerbolt (Yes) PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Doncaster SDP   
			 Dorchester SDP   
			 Downview(F) PASRO   
			 Drake Hall (F)   Validated 
			 Durham PASRO   
			 Edmund Hill PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Elmley  PASRO  
			 Erlestoke   12 Step P/S 
			 Everthorpe PASRO  12 Step Rapt 
			 Exeter  SDP  
			 F Bank SDP   
			 Featherstone PASRO   
			 Ford SDP   
			 Frankland   FOCUS 
			 Full Sutton   FOCUS 
			 Garth   TC 
			 Gartree   STOP 
			 Glen Parva (Yes)  PASRO  
			 Glen Parva (Yes)  SDP  
			 Gloucester   Validated 
			 Guys Marsh (Yes)  PASRO  
			 Haverigg  PASRO  
			 High Point   AOD 
			 Highdown PASRO   
			 Hindley (Yes)  PASRO  
			 Hollesley Bay SDP   
			 Holloway(F) SDP   
			 Holme House SDP  TC 
			 Hull SDP   
			 Kingston PASRO   
			 Kirkham PASRO   
			 Lancaster Castle  PASRO 12 Step P/S 
			 Lancaster Farms (Yes) SDP   
			 Leeds  PASRO  
			 Leicester SDP   
			 Lewes PASRO   
			 Leyhill   Validated 
			 Lincoln PASRO   
			 Lindholme  PASRO  
			 Littlehey   12 Step Rapt 
			 Liverpool  PASRO  
			 Long Lartin   FOCUS 
			 Low Newton (F)  PASRO  
			 Lowdon Grange   AOD 
			 Maidstone  PASRO  
			 Manchester SDP   
			 Moorland  PASRO  
			 North Sea Camp SDP   
			 New Hall  SDP  
			 Northallerton (Yes) SDP   
			 Norwich   12 Step Rapt 
			 Nottingham  SDP Validated 
			 Onley (Yes) PASRO   
			 Pare  PASRO  
			 Parkhurst PASRO   
			 Pentonville SDP   
			 Pentonville PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Portland PASRO   
			 Preston SDP   
			 Ranby PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Reading (Yes)   Validated 
			 Risley  PASRO  
			 Rochester (Yes)  PASRO  
			 Send (F)   RAPT 
			 Stafford  PASRO  
			 Stocken   STOP 
			 Stoke Heath (Yes) SDP   
			 Styal (F) SDP  (5507180098) 
			 Swaleside   RAPT 
			 Swansea SDP  12 Step P/S 
			 Swinfen Hall (Yes)  PASRO  
			 T/Cross SDP   
			 The Mount   12 Step Rapt 
			 The Verne   12 Step P/S 
			 Wakefield   FOCUS 
			 Wandsworth   12 Step Rapt 
			 Warren Hill (J)   Validated 
			 Wayland  PASRO  
			 Wealston PASRO  (5507180098) 
			 Weare SDP   
			 Wellingborough PASRO   
			 Whitemoor   FOCUS 
			 Winchester PASRO   
			 Winchester SDP   
			 Woodhill SDP   
			 Wormwood Scrubbs  SDP AOD 
			 Wymott   TC 
		
	
	(5507180098) AOD or validated converting to PASRO/SDP by 31 March 2005.
	ValidatedProgrammes agreed locally but are not accredited
	AODAction on Drugs
	PASROPrisonAddressing Substance Related Offending
	FOCUSA high intensity cognitive behavioural programme
	RAPTRehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust
	TCTherapeutic Community
	SDPShort Duration Programme
	STOPSubstance Treatment and Offending Programme
	NDPDUNational Drug Programme Delivery Unit

Offenders (Reports)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports his Department has commissioned regarding (a) sentencing and (b) the management of offenders since 1997; on what dates these reports were commissioned; who carried out the reviews; at what cost; and when his Department received each report.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 29 November 2004
	Since 1997, the Home Office has commissioned two major reports on sentencing and the management of offenders. The first of these was the Halliday Report (Making Punishments Work), which was launched in May 2000 and reported in July 2001. The author was John Halliday. The total cost of the report was 56,301.
	The second was the Carter Report (Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime) commissioned by the PM, Treasury and Home Secretary on 17 March 2003. The author was Patrick Carter (now Lord Carter of Coles). The report was received on 11 December 2003 and published on 6 January 2004. The cost of Patrick Carter's review was met by the three commissioning Departments. The Home Office contributed staff resources via seconded staff, and contributed 55,997 to the costs of expenses, research support and publication. The total cost of the Carter report is not readily available.
	In addition to these two major projects, the Home Office has either commissioned or published an estimated 143 projects relating to more specific issues within the area of sentencing or offender management since 1997. These mostly comprise one-off research projects, and exclude the Home Office's series of statistical publications in those areas. Some of these projects have already been completed and published, others are still in progress. These projects have been carried out by a variety of external research teams (usually from universities or commercial research organisations) and in some cases by research development and statistics staff. It would be disproportionately costly to provide information on their total costs or the dates on which they reported.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has received from the Office of Government Commerce on the timing of Gateway Zero consultations in respect of projects and programme development.

Paul Goggins: The Office of Government Commerce was fully consulted and the time scale of Gateway Zero Review was agreed with them.

Operation Blunt

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers have been used to (a) X-ray and (b) stop and search individuals suspected of carrying knives at Hammersmith bus station as part of Operation Blunt; and how many individuals have been arrested for knife crimes as a result.

Caroline Flint: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police informs me that a metal detecting scanner was used at Hammersmith bus station as part of Operation Blunt. Individuals were only searched if the officer had grounds to do so under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Three individuals were arrested as a result of the operation for offences connected to the possession of knives.

Operation Safeguard

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are on standby for Operation Safeguard.

Paul Goggins: There are no plans to activate Operation Safeguard. No police forces have been placed on standby for the routine use of police cells.

Overseas Bribery

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings representatives of the law enforcement agencies have had with representatives from the Confederation of British Industry and other industry groups to discuss enforcement of overseas bribery offences in the last year; and on what dates.

Paul Goggins: Law enforcement authorities operate independently of Government and we do not have this information.

Overseas Bribery

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings officials from his Department have had since October 2003 with the Confederation of British Industry at which legislation on overseas bribery was discussed; and on what dates.

Paul Goggins: One, on 27 October 2004.

Passports

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people born in the UK to a British father and a foreign mother applied for a British passport (a) in the last year and (b) in the last three years; how many were successful in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: British passports are issued to British nationals as defined under the appropriate legislation. Between 200304 the UKPS issued 5,910,154 passports, and between 200104 they issued 17,0123,386 passports. It is not possible to determine how many of these passports were issued to a person born in the UK to a British father and a foreign mother.

Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people he estimates will (a) purchase a passport for the first time and (b) renew their passport in each of the next 10 years.

Des Browne: The table outlines the UK Passport Service's 10-year forecast of demand for adult and child new passports and adult and child passport renewals.
	
		
			 Calendar year Adult and child new passport applications Adult and child passport renewals 
		
		
			 2005 1,601,253 4,632,712 
			 2006 1,435,991 5,085,452 
			 2007 1,289,394 4,742,759 
			 2008 1,223,098 4,643,376 
			 2009 1,158,301 4,270,855 
			 2010 1,130,871 4,484,287 
			 2011 1,132,834 4,731,112 
			 2012 1,135,252 4,577,353 
			 2013 1,137,604 4,641,283 
			 2014 1,139,592 5,049,706 
		
	
	These figures do not include applications for replacement lost or stolen passports or amendments to existing passports.

Passports

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the current EU proposal to mandate biometric passports for its citizens is in an area the UK has opted out of as part of its opt out from the Schengen Acquis; and whether the UK will be required by the EU to introduce biometric passports under current proposals.

Des Browne: holding answer 9 December 2004
	The recitals to this draft Regulation confirm that the UK is not bound by it. We are, therefore, not required by the EU to introduce biometric passports. We do, however, have plans to introduce a biometric passport independent of this Regulation.

Police Injuries

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been victims of (a) fatal injuries, (b) serious injuries and (c) slight injuries resulting from (i) gun crime and (ii) knife crime in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The available information relates to the number of police officers injured by a firearm while on duty and is given in the table. With regard to knife crime, information is only available for police officers who suffer fatal injuries where the apparent method of killing was a sharp instrument. Two police officers have suffered a fatal injury in these circumstances during the period requested, one in 199798 and one in 200203.
	
		Crimes recorded by the police in which a police officer on duty was injured by a firearm199798 to 200203
		
			 Period Total Fatal injury Serious injury(5507180099) Slight injury 
		
		
			 199798 6  3 3 
			 199899 11   11 
			 19992000 10   10 
			 200001 7  5 2 
			 200102 10   10 
			 200203 12  1 11 
		
	
	(5507180099) A serious injury is one which necessitated detention in hospital or involved fractures, concussion, severe general shock, penetration by a bullet or multiple shot wounds

Drink Driving

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and tested for drink driving in each of the last five years (a) in Lancashire, (b) in each police authority area and (c) in total.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Number of screening breath tests by police force area, 19982002(5507180100) -- England and Wales
		
			 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 19,700 19,200 15,800 15,400 15,100 
			 Bedfordshire 5,300 2,900 3,300 4,200 6,200 
			 Cambridgeshire 17,800 13,600 12,800 12,700 13,000 
			 Cheshire 23,300 20,500 15,800 13,600 12,200 
			 Cleveland 34,200 28,600 18,800 14,100 11,000 
			 Cumbria 9,400 7,100 6,100 5,100 4,700 
			 Derbyshire 35,700 49,200 52,000 42,100 37,900 
			 Devon and Cornwall 15,700 14,700 13,000 13,500 12,600 
			 Dorset 10,100 9,200 12,300 10,400 10,400 
			 Durham 7,400 12,700 15,300 16,300 9,500 
			 Essex 28,400 24,100 27,200 18,900 16,100 
			 Gloucestershire 9,300 8,300 8,200 9,600 9,300 
			 Greater Manchester 31,200 21,500 27,300 23,900 23,200 
			 Hampshire 27,300 31,600 35,200 35,200 35,200 
			 Hertfordshire 8,100 7,000 6,000 5,500 4,300 
			 Humberside 8,300 8,100 9,400 7,500 8,700 
			 Kent 27,500 32,700 32,200 32,200 34,200 
			 Lancashire 20,300 19,100 15,500 10,000 10,600 
			 Leicestershire 20,200 21,100 18,600 14,900 14,500 
			 Lincolnshire 25,900 21,000 12,100 13,600 9,000 
			 London, City of 3,300 1,700 1,100 1,100 1,400 
			 Merseyside 18,700 18,600 12,800 7,200 7,000 
			 Metropolitan Police 111,400 99,800 93,800 65,100 57,200 
			 Norfolk 12,400 11,600 9,100 9,100 5,300 
			 Northamptonshire 4,700 5,300 5,800 4,500 3,300 
			 Northumbria 12,200 12,500 12,700 12,400 11,800 
			 North Yorkshire 9,900 8,100 6,700 7,400 7,300 
			 Nottinghamshire 8,900 8,400 8,400 7,700 5,800 
			 South Yorkshire 12,600 16,100 19,200 18,000 14,400 
			 Staffordshire 15,400 10,100 7,700 4,700 5,300 
			 Suffolk 15,600 15,100 9,200 8,600 8,900 
			 Surrey 11,400 11,700 12,400 13,300 7,500 
			 Sussex 17,400 17,900 20,800 21,800 17,300 
			 Thames Valley 34,200 30,300 30,800 26,200 25,300 
			 Warwickshire 8,700 8,600 7,100 5,800 5,100 
			 West Mercia 19,100 12,300 8,900 9,100 8,200 
			 West Midlands 24,100 21,300 16,200 12,200 10,500 
			 West Yorkshire 22,900 18,800 18,300 17,200 16,700 
			 Wiltshire 7,100 6,800 6,500 5,900 5,900 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys 9,200 9,900 7,400 7,000 7,300 
			 Gwent 11,200 10,600 10,100 6,400 3,800 
			 North Wales 15,200 15,900 15,000 15,100 19,600 
			 South Wales 24,900 20,700 17,800 19,300 17,500 
			 Total 815,500 764,500 714,800 623,900 570,200 
		
	
	(5507180100) Figures for 2003 will be available in the spring 2005

Prison (Visiting Times)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure that prison visiting times are available outside school hours.

Paul Goggins: Prison visiting times are determined by individual governors, taking account of operational matters, resources and demand. In line with core Prison Service policy to assist and encourage contact between prisoners and their families, all establishments have a mandatory duty to make available regular weekend visits to prisoners. Some establishments are also able to hold evening visits and an increasing number now provide extended children's visits and family days.

Prison Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects the Prison Service to meet its racial employment targets for the current year.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office race employment target for the Prison Service is to achieve 6 per cent. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) staff representation by April 2005, although current predictions indicate it is unlikely to meet that target. BME staff representation is currently 5.51 per cent.
	The Prison Service has taken a number of steps to increase the profile of the Service among BME communities. An outreach support team based in Prison Service Headquarters provides guidance and advice to local recruiters and has put in place a series of supporting tools, including:
	An outreach toolkit website launched at the end of October 2004;
	An outreach support networkrepresented by a central co-ordinator in each area;
	REACH OUTa recruitment outreach newsletter; and
	An annual outreach conferencethe next is planned to take place in March 2005.
	Through these measures, recruiters are encouraged to develop an outreach strategy that includes representation at community, religious and cultural, and lifestyle events as well as attendance at recruitment and career fares.
	Over the last two months the Prison Service has run a national awareness advertising campaign targeting under-represented groups. The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the diverse range of career opportunities available within the service . While it is too early to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative, there has been a significant increase in interest in the Prison Service website (over 120 per cent.). The Prison Service has made it clear to the advertising agencies it uses, that they must consider advertising strategies that attract applications from under-represented groups.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) unconvicted and (b) convicted unsentenced prisoners are held in prisons in England and Wales, broken down by sex.

Paul Goggins: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system on 31 October 2004, is provided in the table.
	
		Remand population in prison establishments, by custody type and sex England and Wales, 31 October 2004
		
			  Males Females 
		
		
			 Untried 7,098 503 
			 Convicted Unsentenced 4,297 331

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per week on average remand prisoners spent out of cell in each local prison in England and Wales in 2003.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not collect specific details of the number of hours that remand prisoners spend out of cell. Details of time out of cell for all prisoners and each establishment average are collected but these do not allow the specific identification of the position for remand prisoners.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average population of prisoners on remand was in England and Wales in 2003.

Paul Goggins: The average remand population in prison establishments in England and Wales in 2003, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system, was 12,923.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female remand prisoners were subsequently (i) acquitted and (ii) sentenced to a non-custodial penalty in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The following table gives the estimated numbers of male and female defendants remanded in custody by final outcome at the magistrates' courts and the Crown court in 2003.
	
		Final court outcome for persons remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates' courts and Crown court(5507180101) 2003 -- Thousand (of persons)
		
			 Final outcome Male Female Total 
		
		
			 Acquitted or not proceeded with etc. 20 2 22 
			 Convicted:
			 Discharge 3 1 3 
			 Fine 4 0 4 
			 Community sentence(5507180102) 14 2 16 
			 Fully suspended sentence 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody(5507180103) 44 4 48 
			 Total number sentenced(5507180104) 71 8 79 
		
	
	(5507180101) Remand status shown is that given by the court passing sentence. Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail.
	(5507180102) Community rehabilitation orders, supervision orders, community punishment orders, attendance centre orders, community punishment and rehabilitation orders, curfew orders, reparation orders action plan orders and drug treatment and testing orders.
	(5507180103) Includes detention in a young offender institution, detention and training orders and unsuspended imprisonment.
	(5507180104) Includes offences otherwise dealt with.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been on remand awaiting trial for over (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) over two years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The available information is not sufficiently reliable to break down into the level of detail required.
	We estimate that, on 30 June 2003, around 500 prisoners had been on untried remand for more than six months up to and including 12 months. We further estimate that, on the same date, around 100 prisoners had been on untried remand for more than 12 months. These figures include any intervening time spent outside of prison establishments.

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted of sex offences have escaped from open prisons in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Prisoners are considered to abscond, rather than to escape, from open prisons. The information sought is set out in the following table. This shows the number of prisoners who have absconded from open prisons or failed to return from a period of temporary release from an open prison in the years from 2002 to 2004 and who were serving sentences for sex offences at the time. Prescoed began taking sex offenders this year. All 10 of these prisoners were recaptured and none were still at large on 7 December 2004.
	
		
			 Prison 2002 2003 2004 (to 7 December) 
		
		
			 Leyhill 3 2 1 
			 North Sea Camp 2 0 1 
			 Prescoed   1

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisoners that have absconded from prison over the past five years and failed to be recaptured; for which crimes each was convicted; and what sentence each was serving.

Paul Goggins: Once a prisoner is unlawfully at large the matter passes into the hands of the police. The information requested in respect of prisoners who have absconded over the past five years and are still unlawfully at large is available only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had completed their sentence were being held in a prison establishment on 14 December, broken down by (a) prison, (b) nationality and (c) ethnicity.

Des Browne: holding answer 20 December 2004
	Information on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments solely under Immigration Act powers after a completion of a criminal sentence is not available.
	Work is ongoing to improve the quality of data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments.

Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the (a) female and (b) male prison population were serving prison sentences for their first criminal offence in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The requested information has been published in table 8.7 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Offender Management Caseload Statistics. A copy of this publication can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the pay rates for (a) work and (b) education are in each prison in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: It is Prison Service policy that all prisoners who are employed in purposeful activity such as work, induction, education, training and offending behaviour programmes, must be paid. The minimum rate of pay for all these activities is set nationally and is currently 4.00 a week.
	Each prison is able to set their own pay rates over and above the national minimum. Rates of pay will therefore vary between prisons and between activities within a prison, as Governors use this discretion to pay rates that reflect local conditions. The Prison Service does not keep national statistics on rates of local pay and so we are unable to provide the information requested.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proportion of prisoners who were given detoxification in the last 12 months for which figures are available entered one of the Prison Service's drug rehabilitation programmes;
	(2)  what proportion of prisoners who entered a drug rehabilitation programme in the last 12 months for which figures are available went on to complete those programmes; and what proportion failed to complete such programmes.

Paul Goggins: In 200304, 57,891 prisoners received clinical interventions (detoxification or maintenance prescribing) and 4,703 entered an intensive drug rehabilitation programme, of whom 2,287 (48 per cent.) failed to complete a programme. The great majority of those who attend a programme will have received a clinical intervention on first arrival in prison custody.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors have been identified as accounting for the increase of self harming incidents in prisons between 1999 and 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: In December 2002 new procedures for reporting self-injury were introduced in prisons in England and Wales. The evidence suggests that much of the increase in reported self-harm in 2003 may result from this change rather than an actual increase in incidence of self-harm.
	The prison population includes a large number of prisoners with a combination of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, family background and relationship problems, histories of self-harm and previous abuse, all of which raise their risk of suicide and self-harm.
	A number of interventions have been introduced to support prisoners who self-harm. These include counselling, support groups, and specialised psychological interventions. A network has been established to develop this work, to facilitate evaluation and share good practice. Guidance to staff on managing people who self-harm has also been circulated to establishments.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners have been released on parole during each of the last 48 months.

Paul Goggins: The requested information is shown in the table. Information for the period November 2000 to March 2001 relates to first time releases only. Subsequent data includes cases where the prisoners have been re-released following the earlier revocation of their life licence.
	
		Releases on life licence November 2000-October 2004
		
			 Month Year Number of releases 
		
		
			 November 2000 6 
			 December 2000 4 
			 January 2001 16 
			 February 2001 14 
			 March 2001 13 
			 April 2001 25 
			 May 2001 12 
			 June 2001 .14 
			 July 2001 11 
			 August 2001 17 
			 September 2001 9 
			 October 2001 18 
			 November 2001 15 
			 December 2001 10 
			 January 2002 10 
			 February 2002 13 
			 March 2002 10 
			 April 2002 12 
			 May 2002 17 
			 June 2002 12 
			 July 2002 22 
			 August 2002 26 
			 September 2002 14 
			 October 2002 26 
			 November 2002 14 
			 December 2002 18 
			 January 2003 18 
			 February 2003 28 
			 March 2003 29 
			 April 2003 18 
			 May 2003 30 
			 June 2003 22 
			 July 2003 38 
			 August 2003 32 
			 September 2003 22 
			 October 2003 40 
			 November 2003 15 
			 December 2003 30 
			 January 2004 15 
			 February 2004 31 
			 March 2004 38 
			 April 2004 25 
			 May 2004 28 
			 June 2004 33 
			 July 2004 22 
			 August 2004 22 
			 September 2004 24 
			 October 2004 24

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in 2003 began training, education or offender behaviour programmes but were unable to complete these courses due (a) to transfer to another establishment and (b) release from custody.

Paul Goggins: In 200304 there were approximately 9,600 commencements of accredited offending behaviour programmes excluding drug programmes. Of the 8,034 commencements of general offending behaviour programmesEnhanced Thinking Skills and Reasoning and Rehabilitation106 prisoners (1.3 per cent.) did not complete because they were transferred and 12 (0.1 per cent.) did not complete because they were released. The percentage of prisoners not completing other accredited offending behaviour programmes for these reasons would have been similar or lower.
	Equivalent information on non-completion is not available for prisoners' training or education programmes.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the development costs were of the Democratic Therapeutic Community Core Model to (a) public sector and (b) private sector prison operators.

Paul Goggins: The Democratic Therapeutic Community (TC) Core Model was developed by a working group drawn from across public and private sector prisons.
	The Therapeutic Community Policy Manager in Prison Service Headquarters facilitated this development work and managed a central annual budget of 129,000 which was used to support the accreditation process. This included the provision of training and resources for staff, the commissioning of a consultant to undertake a literature review to underpin the core model, the provision of additional psychometric materials to TCs and other related costs.

Prisoners

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug-related deaths have occurred among inmates in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: Two deaths in 2001, eight in 2002 and six in 2003 appeared to be drug-related.

Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held (a) two to a cell designed for one and (b) three to a cell designed for two at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many category C and D prisoners are being housed in dormitory accommodation.

Paul Goggins: At the end of October 2004 16,889 prisoners were held two to a cell designed for one, while 1,034 prisoners were held three to a cell designed for two. The data in this answer are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.
	The Prison Service does not collect centrally the details of the number of category C and D prisoners who are placed in dormitory accommodation.

Prisons

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether penalties are imposed on contracted out prisons for exceeding overcrowding limits.

Paul Goggins: Each of the nine contracts for prisons managed by the private sector under the private finance initiative contain provision for penalising the contractor financially if the agreed overcrowding limit is exceeded. The contracts for two further prisons, HMP Doncaster and HMP Wolds, which are operated by the private sector following a market test, do not contain this provision.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the governor of each prison is; how old each will be on 1 January 2005; on what date each joined the Prison Service; how long each has been a governor; and when each is expected to retire.

Paul Goggins: The names of governors in public sector prisons, their length of service as governing governor and their start date with the Prison Service is contained in the following table. Staffing information for privately managed prisons is considered commercial in confidence and is therefore not included. The information requested about age and retirement is considered personal information and could only be provided with the consent of the individuals concerned.
	
		
			 Governing governor as at 8 December 2004 Current establishment. Total time as governing governor in months Start date in Prison Service 
		
		
			 Mike Kirby Acklington 111 26 May1980 
			 Mel Jones Albany 32 23 September 1985 
			 Chris Di Paolo Ashwell 9 24 September 1984 
			 Dawn Elaine Askham Grange 39 22 October 1990 
			 David Kennedy Aylesbury 49 12 March 1979 
			 Guy Baulf Bedford 10 15 July 1985 
			 Geoff Hughes Belmarsh 65 28 September 1981 
			 Mike Shann Birmingham 79 8 May1967 
			 Ferdie Parker Blakenhurst 18 5 October 1987 
			 Kieron Taylor Blantyre House 2 17 August 1981 
			 Teresa Clarke Blundeston 20 22 November 1990 
			 Tom Watson Brinsford 46 29 April 1974 
			 Mick Bell Bristol 43 4 April 1977 
			 John Podmore Brixton 49 1 September 1985 
			 Barbara Treen Brockhill 31 10 October 1983 
			 Sue Morrison Buckley Hall 32 28 September 1981 
			 Sue Saunders Bullingdon 31 3 April 1989 
			 Mukhtar Poselay Bullwood Hall 3 21 August 1972 
			 Bob Bennett Camp Hill 87 6 July 1968 
			 Helen Rinaldi Canterbury 32 14 January 1985 
			 Paul Tidball Cardiff 93 27 September 1976 
			 Matt Spencer Castington 11 16 November 1987 
			 Nick Evans Channings Wood 92 27 September 1976 
			 Steve Rodford Chelmsford 16 25 July 1988 
			 Paul McDowell Coldingley 11 29 May1990 
			 Ed Tullett Cookham Wood 12 25 April 1979 
			 Claudia Sturt Dartmoor 17 21 September 1992 
			 Alan Tallentire Deerbolt 24 8 May1984 
			 Steve Holland Dorchester 32 30 September 1991 
			 Val Whitecross Dover 25 28 September 1981 
			 Peter Dawson Downview 9 1 October 1984 
			 John Huntingdon Drake Hall 16 25 February 1980 
			 Mike Newell Durham 105 5 August 1974 
			 Robin Carter East Sutton Park 70 1 March 1983 
			 Tim Beeston Eastwood Park 67 22 October 1984 
			 Norma King Edmunds Hill 3 15 August 1988 
			 Chris Bartlett Elmley 55 23 September 1985 
			 Clive Broom Eriestoke 14 18 January 1988 
			 Amy Rice Everthorpe 20 11 September 1995 
			 lan Mulholland Exeter 34 14 May1990 
			 Mike Bolton Featherstone 55 29 May1984 
			 Andrew Cross Feltham 50 12 August 1985 
			 Fiona Radford Ford 13 23 September 1985 
			 Paddy Scriven [Foston Hall 95 29 October 1973 
			 Phil Copple Frankland 57 1 October 1990 
			 Bob Mullen Full Sutton 75 27 September 1982 
			 Bob McColm Garth 39 1 August 1975 
			 Rannoch Daly Gartree 95 1 August 1972 
			 Brian Edwards Glen Parva 34 3 January 1972 
			 David Chalmers Gloucester 44 20 May1974 
			 Peter Bennett Grendon 51 26 September 1983 
			 Barry Greenberry Guys Marsh 47 22 October 1984 
			 Carole Draper Haslar 10 1 September 1984 
			 Sue McCullagh Haverigg 21 16 November 1981 
			 Alison Gomme Hewell Grange 68 22 September 1980 
			 Sian West Highdown 61 30 June 1987 
			 Sue Doolan Highpoint 53 28 September 1981 
			 Jayne Blake Hindley 61 28 October 1974 
			 Michael Wood Hollesley Bay 23 9 September 1974 
			 Tony Hassall Holloway 37 25 June 1990 
			 Mick Lees Holme House 93 12 February 1979 
			 Steve Tilley Hull 46 2 October 1978 
			 Elaine Jones Huntercombe 35 19 March 1979 
			 John Robinson Kingston 56 1 November 1982 
			 Steve Lawrence Kirkham 21 7 May1985 
			 Alan Richer Kirklevington 30 28 September 1982 
			 Derek Harrison Lancaster Castle 14 1 January 1991 
			 Terry Williams Lancaster Farms 18 20 July 1992 
			 Terry Hinchliffe Latchmere House 77 10 February 1969 
			 lan Blakeman Leeds 23 25 September 1989 
			 Steve Turner Leicester 15 28 April 1975 
			 Eoin McLennan-Murray Lewes 14 25 September 1978 
			 Richard Booty Leyhill 65 23 September 1985 
			 Lynne Saunders Lincoln 8 21 September 1992 
			 Martin Ward Lindholme 44 25 March 1974 
			 Julia Morgan Uttlehey 47 25 September 1978 
			 Cathy James . Liverpool 60 22 October 1984 
			 Nick Leader Long Lartin 40 23 September 1985 
			 Vacant/Advertised Low Newton   
			 Jane Galbally Maidstone 77 27 September 1976 
			 Chris Sheffield Manchester 68 29 September 1980 
			 Jacqui Tilley Moorland 24 20 December 1980 
			 Damian Evans Morton Hall 6 16 September 1992 
			 Sara Snell New Hall 47 25 September 1989 
			 K Beaumont North Sea Camp 77 29 September 1980 
			 Bill Shaw Northallerton 37 9 July 1979 
			 James Shanley Norwich 27 8 August 1983 
			 Wendy Sinclair-Gieben Nottingham 2 29 June 98 
			 Alison Perry Onley 8 23 September 1985 
			 Steve Metcalf Parkhurst 51 12 October 1970 
			 Gareth Davies Pentonville 122 1 January 1980 
			 Steve Twinn Portland 22 3 September 1968 
			 Alan Brown Preston 29 27 March 1972 
			 Phil Wragg Ranby 29 20 July 1987 
			 Pauline Bryant Reading 7 8 December 1986 
			 Paul Norbury Risley 47 28 September 1982 
			 Stephen O'Connell Rochester 3 30 March 1987 
			 Brian Ritchie Send 23 27 September 1971 
			 Bryan McAlley Suspended (Suzy Dymond-Whlte t/p D) Shepton Mallet 43 6 September 1979 
			 Vacant/Advertised Shrewsbury   
			 Louise Taylor Stafford 53 28 September 1981 
			 John Wilson Standford Hill 13 8 May1978 
			 Moira Barlett Stocken 15 29 September 1980 
			 Peter Small Stoke Heath 11 13 August 1990 
			 Steve Hall Styal 10 25 September 1989 
			 Chris Davidson Sudbury 75 26 September 1977 
			 Tony Robson Swaleside 66 28 September 1982 
			 Phil Taylor Swansea 22 31 July 1978 
			 Peter Knapton Swinfen Hall 29 5 May1975 
			 Paul Wailen The Mount 97 24 September 1973 
			 Mike Cook The Verne 66 24 September 1979 
			 Give Chatterton Thorn Cross 4 8 September 1975 
			 Phil Morgan Usk/Prescoed 19 8 August 1977 
			 Dave Thompson Wakefield 38 25 February 1980 
			 Jim Heavens Wandsworth 64 24 September 1984 
			 Stuart Robinson Warren Hill 54 30 September 1968 
			 Vacant/Advertised Wayland   
			 Governor in post 9 January 2005 Wealstun   
			 Denise Calvert Weare 67 23 September 1985 
			 Jim Lewis Wellingborough 26 12 May1986 
			 Frank Flynn Werrington 23 6 September 1976 
			 Paul Foweather Wetherby 10 8 September 1985 
			 Viv Hart Whatton 72 26 September 1983 
			 Martin Lomas Whitemoor 19 23 September 1985 
			 Cathy Allison Winchester 39 29 September 1986 
			 Edd Willetts Woodhill 56 29 September 1980 
			 Luke Serjeant Wormwood Scrubs 50 10 October 1983 
			 Alan Scott Wymott 67 26 September 1983

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were held in prison awaiting deportation at 1 December, broken down by (a) those who have been awaiting deportation for (i) one week, (ii) two to four weeks, (iii) four to eight weeks, (iv) eight to 12 weeks and (v) more than 12 weeks and (b) nationality.

Des Browne: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Information on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments awaiting deportation after completion of a criminal sentence is not available.
	Work is on-going to improve the quality of data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments.

Prisons

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used when making the decision to allow advertisements in Prison Catering by HM Prison Service; what revenue was raised from advertising in the last issue; and what the total cost was of the publication of that issue.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Catering' magazine was a partnership arrangement between the Prison Service and Cost Sector Catering magazine published by Dewberry Boyes. The magazine was published and distributed in support of the Prison Services national catering workshop. The aim was to promote, to a wider public sector audience, some of the work and challenges being taken forward and tackled within Prison Service catering.
	The criteria for advertisements set by the Prison Service required all advertisers to either hold a government contract or deliver to a government contract. Publication of the magazine was at no cost to the public purse and no income was generated for the Prison Service. The cost of the publication was borne by the publishers who also received the revenue raised from advertising. In addition to the publication Dewberry Boyes also organised the workshop venue.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many London prisons have a visitor centre that provides child care facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Supervised child care facilities are provided in the main visits area at Belmarsh, Holloway, Pentonville and Wormwood Scrubs. Wandsworth provides seating in booths where prisoners, their partners and children can enjoy a visit in an area that has been specially designed to meet the needs of young children. The feasibility of providing a crche is under consideration at Feltham.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for taking the final decision on the location for the building of new prisons.

Paul Goggins: The Secretary of State for the Home Department makes the final decision on the location of new prisons, subject to the planning process.

Prisons

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available an individual in the (a) Prison Service, (b) Probation Service and (c) Metropolitan Police has been suspended for dishonestly claiming an allowance; and how many were reinstated after repaying the money.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 December 2004
	From the information held centrally by the Prison Service, no member of staff has been suspended for dishonestly claiming an allowance. For the National Probation Service, this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	In the Metropolitan Police, and from information available, one member of staff has been dismissed and has not been reinstated. Additionally one has also been reprimanded in relation to dishonestly claiming non police allowances.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  why the Prison Service did not accept the recommendation of the review of the installation of sprinklers that sprinklers should be installed in all prisons and detention centres;
	(2)  what criteria are used to decide whether sprinkler equipment should be installed in prisons and detention centres;
	(3)  if he will estimate (a) how long it would take and (b) how much it would cost to install sprinkler equipment in all prisons and detention centres;
	(4)  how many prisons are fitted with sprinkler equipment; and which areas of each prison are protected by the sprinkler system.

Paul Goggins: The only formal review that the Prison Service is aware of relating to sprinklers was in respect of Immigration Centres. In the light of this review the Prison Service undertook technical assessments and testing of non-ligature secure sprinkler heads, as part of a continuing review of fire safety in the prison estate. No conclusions have yet been reached.
	An independent Fire Safety Survey and Review is currently being undertaken on behalf of the Prison Service by the Building Research Establishment (Fire) across the prison estate (public and private) which will include an assessment of the suitability, or otherwise, of sprinkler systems and other appropriate fire detection/management systems.
	The cost and time to install sprinklers is dependent upon the availability of the cell areas in which sprinklers would be installed. An initial Prison Service estimate of the cost to provide sprinklers is in excess of 125 million, Owing to population pressures and the need for major decanting and relocation of prisoners to facilitate a national installation programme installation would take many years, possibly several decades.
	The Weare (a floating facility with shore facilities) is the only prison establishment fitted with sprinklers in accommodation areas. Many other establishments have sprinkler systems installed in high-risk areas, which include parts of kitchens and parts of workshops.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were in each prison establishment for (a) prison officers and (b) other prison staff as at 1 November.

Paul Goggins: The most recent information on staff vacancies against operational staffing requirement is at 30 September 2004. For each public sector prison establishment this is contained in the following table. The figures represent a snapshot of staffing at establishment level and do not take into account new staff who were still in the recruitment process on 30 September.
	
		Staff vacancies at prisons and young offender institutes at30 June 2003(5507180105)
		
			 Establishment Officers grades Other staff 
		
		
			 Acklington -7  
			 Albany -8  
			 Ashwell -3 -14 
			 Askham Grange -2 -3 
			 Aylesbury -15  
			 Bedford -18 -10 
			 Belmarsh -34 -31 
			 Birmingham -18 -5 
			 Blakenhurst   
			 Blantyre House -3  
			 Blundeston  -5 
			 Brinsford -24 -17 
			 Bristol -15 -1 
			 Brixton -8  
			 Brockhill -7 -7 
			 Buckley Hall -4  
			 Bullingdon -19 -34 
			 Bullwood Hall -10  
			 Camp Hill -3  
			 Canterbury  -13 
			 Cardiff  -10 
			 Castington -6 -5 
			 Channings Wood  -2 
			 Chelmsford -10 -2 
			 Coldingley -10 -1 
			 Cookham Wood -4  
			 Dartmoor -2 -0 
			 Deerbolt  -4 
			 Dorchester -9  
			 Dover -1 -14 
			 Downview -19  
			 Drake Hall -7  
			 Durham -16 -10 
			 East Sutton Park  -1 
			 Eastwood Park -5 -34 
			 Edmunds Hill -12 -19 
			 Elmley  -8 
			 Erlestoke -3 -30 
			 Everthorpe   
			 Exeter -1 -7 
			 Featherstone   
			 Feltham -75  
			 Ford -3 -7 
			 Foston Hall -10 -21 
			 Frankland -29  
			 Full Button -11 -25 
			 Garth -5  
			 Gartree -8 -14 
			 Glen Pan/a -15 -14 
			 Gloucester -10 -9 
			 Grendon -18  
			 Guys Marsh -4 -2 
			 Haslar -1 -6 
			 Haverigg -10 -1 
			 Hewell Grange  -2 
			 High Down -16  
			 Highpoint -9 -19 
			 Hindley -18  
			 Hollesley Bay -0 -2 
			 Holloway -17  
			 Holme House -1 -16 
			 Hull -7 -13 
			 Huntercombe -13 -12 
			 Kingston -3  
			 Kirkham -5 -3 
			 Kirklevington Grange  -0 
			 Lancaster -3 -8 
			 Lancaster Farms -7 -5 
			 Latch mere House -4 -2 
			 Leeds  -15 
			 Leicester -15  
			 Lewes -8 -12 
			 Leyhill -6 -16 
			 Lincoln -2 -18 
			 Lindholme -1  
			 Littlehey -9 -18 
			 Liverpool  -18 
			 Long Lartin -13 -14 
			 Low Newton -5  
			 Maidstone -9 -13 
			 Manchester -44 -27 
			 Moorland -4 -6 
			 Morton Hall   
			 New Hall -9 -3 
			 North Sea Camp -2 -10 
			 Northallerton  -4 
			 Norwich -5 -24 
			 Nottingham  -0 
			 Onley -9 -15 
			 Parkhurst -15 -22 
			 Pentonville -25  
			 Portland -8 -10 
			 Preston -2  
			 Ran by -14  
			 Reading -4  
			 Risley -7 -5 
			 Rochester -2 -16 
			 Send -15 -12 
			 Shepton Mallet -2 -4 
			 Shrewsbury -6  
			 Stafford -0  
			 Standford Hill -1 -9 
			 Stocken -2 -5 
			 Stoke Heath -18  
			 Styal -4 -9 
			 Sudbury -2 -4 
			 Swaleside  -4 
			 Swansea -4 -1 
			 Swinfen Hall -15 -19 
			 The Mount -11 -6 
			 The Verne   
			 Thorn Cross -1  
			 Usk/Prescoed  -6 
			 Wakefield -4 -9 
			 Wandsworth -35 -1 
			 Warren Hill -8 -2 
			 Wayland -3 -8 
			 Wealstun -6  
			 Weare -2 -2 
			 Wellingborough -38 -47 
			 Werrington -5 -4 
			 Wetherby -13  
			 Whatton  -15 
			 Whitemoor -17 -63 
			 Winchester -4 -10 
			 Woodhill -9 -27 
			 Wormwood Scrubs -14  
			 Wymott -5 -26 
			 Total -1,061 -1029 
		
	
	(5507180105)Figures do not take into account all new staff who were still in the recruitment at 30 September 2004

Prisons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for private companies who run prisons in England and Wales to be given additional responsibilities, including enhanced disciplinary powers.

Paul Goggins: In the Management of Offenders and Sentencing Bill we are proposing to transfer to directors of private prisons additional powers concerning the segregation, control and punishment of prisoners.
	We also propose minor changes to the search and detention powers of a Prison Custody Officer, giving them broadly equivalent powers to public sector prison officers.

Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to second offender managers from local probation services to work for regional offender managers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for offender managers employed by probation areas in England and Wales to work for regional offender managers via service level agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Various options relating to the transfer of responsibility for Offender Managers are under consideration. A decision will be announced in due course.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of (a) staff, (b) probation officers, (c) Probation Service officers and (d) local support staff working in the Probation Service in England and Wales was on (i) 1 April 2001, (ii) 1 April 2002, (iii) 1 April 2003, (iv) 1 April 2004 and (v) 30 September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows.
	
		England and Wales
		
			   (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) 
			  Probation staff(5507180106) , (5507180107) 31 December 2001 31 December 2002 1 April 2003 1 April 2004 30 September 2004 
		
		
			 (a) All staff 16,615 17,285 17,752 19,237 19,128 
			 (b) Probation officers(5507180108) 7,134 7,532 7,351 8,106 7,992 
			 (c) Probation service officers 3,566 4,083 4,752 5,417 5,513 
			 (d) Local support staff(5507180109) 5,915 5,670 5,649 5,714 5,623 
		
	
	(5507180106) Figures shown as FTE.
	(5507180107) Prior to April 2003, all data were collected by the Home Office RDS Unit in December of each year, and therefore no actual data are available for April 2001 and 2002. Actual data collection date of the data from 2003 onwards is 31 March.
	(5507180108) Figures include Senior Probation Officers, Senior Practitioners, Probation Officers, Trainee Probation Officers.
	(5507180109) Figures include all other staff employed within the Probation Service excluding those listed in 3 above and Probation Service Officers.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were in the Probation Service on (a) 1 April 2001, (b) 1 April 2002, (c) 1 April 2003, (d) 1 April 2004 and (e) 30 September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Probation staff(5507180110)(5507180111): number of vacancies(5507180112)(5507180113) -- England and Wales
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 31 December 2001 (5507180114) (5507180114) 
			 31 December 2002 (5507180114) (5507180114) 
			 1 April 2003(5507180115) 1,059.9 5.6 
			 1 April 2004(5507180115) 1,010.3 5.0 
			 30 September 2004(5507180116) 758.9 3.9 
		
	
	(5507180110) Figures shown as FTE.
	(5507180111) Prior to April 2003, all data were collected by the Home Office RDS Unit in December of each year, and therefore no actual data are available for April 2001 and 2002. Actual data collection date of the data from 2003 onwards is 31 March.
	(5507180112) Figures quoted for April 2003 and April 2004 are net vacancy levels. This figure takes into account any areas where staff may have been recruited over-establishment at one level to cover vacancies at another level. This may be necessary where difficulties arise in recruitment into these posts.
	(5507180113) From April 2004 onwards, the vacancy information collected changed and reflected those vacancies that areas were actively recruiting staff into.
	(5507180114) Vacancy information not collected at this time.
	(5507180115) Vacancy figures are calculated against a notional complement of staff.
	(5507180116) Figures issued prior to publication and may alter slightly when published in Issue 05 of the Workforce Information Report due to some outstanding queries awaiting responses.

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days sick were taken on average per employee in the National Probation Service during (a) 200304 and (b) April to September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The average number of days absent due to sickness per member of staff in the National Probation Service in each of the years since 200304 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average days of absence due to sickness 
		
		
			 200304 12.3 
			 200405 (April-September) 11.5

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much Basic Skills Commencements for the National Probation Service changed (a) during 200304 and (b) between April to September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The performance of the National Probation Service on basic skills commencements in 200304 and between April and September 200405 is shown in the table. It shows a 22 percentage point increase between the two periods based on the proportion of the target delivered in each period.
	
		
			  200304  April to September 200405   
			 Basic Skills Target Achieved Target Achieved Percentage point change 
		
		
			 Commencements 16,000 14,971 (94%) 11,520 13,353(116%) +22%

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of victims were contacted by the National Probation Service during the required timescale during (a) 200304 and (b) April to September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The National Probation Service contacted 91 per cent. of victims within the required timescale in 200304 and 93 per cent. within the required timescale in the first quarter of 200405. This is against a target of 85 per cent.

Probation Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the performance of the National Probation Service on (a) Basic Skills Awards and (b) Basic Skills Commencements against its targets improved (i) during 200304 and (ii) between April and September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The performance of the National Probation Service on basic skills awards and commencements in 200304 and between April and September 2004 is shown in the table which demonstrates a significant improvement between the two periods.
	
		Table 1: Basic Skills Performance
		
			  200304  April to September 200405   
			 Basic Skills Target Achieved Target Achieved Percentage point change 
		
		
			 Commencements 16,000 14,971 (94%) 11 ,520 13,353(116%) +22% 
			 Awards 4,000 2,815(70%) 2,960 3,302(112%) +42%

Probation Service

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of probation areas (a) met and (b) exceeded the 90 per cent. breach target within 10 days in each year since 2001; and what progress the National Probation Service has made on breach targets since April 2001.

Paul Goggins: The proportion of areas meeting or exceeding the 90 per cent. target to breach within 10 working days those offenders that have breached the conditions of their orders or licenses is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of areas Percentage of areas 
		
		
			 200102 1 2 
			 200203 6 14 
			 200304 13 31 
			 200405 (April-September) 22 52

Probation Service

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation areas exceeded their profile targets in respect of accredited programmes between April and September 2004.

Paul Goggins: The number of probation areas exceeding their profiled target of accredited programme completions between April and September 2004 was 18 out of 42 areas.

Probation Service

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of days of sick leave absence was for Probation staff in England and Wales (a) in 200304 and (b) for the first six months of 200405, broken down by (i) long-term and (ii) short-term sickness.

Paul Goggins: The average number of days absent due to sickness per member of staff in the National Probation Service in 200304 and for the first six months of 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Short term Long term DDA-related Total 
		
		
			 200304 6.2 5.8 0.3 12.3 
			 200405 (April-September) 5.3 6.0 0.3 11.5 
		
	
	Note:
	DDA = Disability Discrimination

Probation Service

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the rate of absence due to sickness in the Probation Service in England and Wales in the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The average number of days absent due to sickness per member of staff in the National Probation Service in each of the years since 200203 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average days sickness absence 
		
		
			 200203 11.9 
			 200304 12.3 
			 200405 (April to September) 11.5

Probation Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation will occur with stakeholders before further restructuring of the Probation Service in England and Wales is put in place.

Paul Goggins: Consultation with all stakeholders, including staff, will continue as part of the development of the National Offender Management Service. There are no specific consultation exercises planned at the present time.

Probation Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are at each grade in each probation area in England and Wales at the latest date available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Senior Probation Officer Senior Practitioner Probation Officer Trainee Probation Officer Probation Service Officer 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1.60 3.00 14.20 0.00 19.30 
			 Bedfordshire 0.00 1.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.50 0.00 3.70 0.00 5.43 
			 Cheshire 1.00 0.00 7.70 0.00 17.30 
			 Cumbria 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 
			 Derbyshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1.50 1.00 2.80 0.00 8.00 
			 Dorset 2.00 0.00 5.00 1.00 4.60 
			 Durham 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 
			 Dyfed Powys 0.00 2.00 1.40 0.00 3.40 
			 Essex 0.00 1.00 4.50 0.00 7.00 
			 Gloucestershire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.23 
			 Gwent 0.00 1.00 5.00 0.00 3.00 
			 Hampshire 0.00 0.00 3.73 0.00 1.00 
			 Hertfordshire 1.00 2.20 3.90 3.00 2.40 
			 Humberside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Kent 1.00 7.60 7.50 0.00 3.00 
			 Lancashire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 2.70 2.00 5.80 0.00 4.00 
			 Lincolnshire 1.50 0.00 7.00 1.00 6.20 
			 London 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Greater Manchester 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Merseyside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Norfolk 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 North Yorkshire 0.00 3.00 4.80 3.00 0.50 
			 North Wales 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 8.00 
			 Northamptonshire 3.00 0.00 6.00 0.00 5.00 
			 Northumbria 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.70 
			 South Wales 3.00 0.00 32.50 22.00 31.30 
			 South Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Staffordshire 1.00 0.00 7.70 0.00 7.00 
			 Suffolk 0.00 0.00 2.90 0.00 3.36 
			 Surrey 1.00 1.00 6.00 8.00 24.40 
			 Sussex 0.10 1.50 7.40 0.00 15.60 
			 Teesside 1.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 
			 Thames Valley 4.50 0.00 12.00 0.00 14.40 
			 Warwickshire 2.20 1.20 1.00 0.00 2.90 
			 West Mercia 0.00 3.36 7.50 0.00 7.91 
			 West Midlands 0.00 0.00 12.80 0.00 11.50 
			 West Yorkshire 4.00 3.50 17.50 4.00 29.80 
			 Wiltshire 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 5.00 
			 Total 32.60 34.36 202.33 43.00 267.23 
		
	
	
		
			  Psychologists Other Operational Staff' Deputy Chief Officer/ Equivalent Assistant Chief Officer/ Equivalent Area/ District Managers/ Equivalent 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 
			 Bedfordshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Cheshire 0.00 3.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Cumbria 0.00 2.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Derbyshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Dorset 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Durham 2.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Dyfed Powys 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Essex 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Gloucestershire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Gwent 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Hampshire 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Hertfordshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Humberside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Kent 0.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 
			 Lancashire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 0.00 3.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Lincolnshire 0.00 1.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 London 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Greater Manchester 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Merseyside 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Norfolk 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 North Yorkshire 0.00 1.60 0.00 2.30 0.00 
			 North Wales 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Northamptonshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Northumbria 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.00 3.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 South Wales 0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 South Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Staffordshire 0.00 0.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Suffolk 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Surrey 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Sussex 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Teesside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Thames Valley 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 
			 Warwickshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 West Mercia 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 West Midlands 0.00 25.97 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 West Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Wiltshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 
			 Total 2.00 48.97 1.00 5.30 3.00 
		
	
	
		
			  Managers-Section or Function Head Support Staff Admin Support Staff Other Other Specialist Worker Total 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 0.80 13.10 2.40 0.00 56.40 
			 Bedfordshire 0.00 1.67 3.00 0.00 8.67 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.58 3.28 0.00 0.00 13.49 
			 Cheshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0..00 29.50 
			 Cumbria 0.00 3.50 0.00 0.00 9.00 
			 Derbyshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0.00 6.60 0.00 0.00 19.90 
			 Dorset 0.00 4.10 0.00 0.00 16.70 
			 Durham 0.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 8.00 
			 Dyfed Powys 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.80 
			 Essex 0.00 7.00 0.10 0.00 19.60 
			 Gloucestershire 0.00 0.29 0.00 0.00 1.52 
			 Gwent 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.00 
			 Hampshire 0.00 2.00 0.00 1.00 8.73 
			 Hertfordshire 0.00 1.00 3.40 0.00 16.90 
			 Humberside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Kent 0.00 4.43 0.00 0.00 26.53 
			 Lancashire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 19.80 
			 Lincolnshire 0.30 7.00 0.00 0.00 24.10 
			 London 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Greater Manchester 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Merseyside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 
			 Norfolk 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 North Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15.20 
			 North Wales 0.00 3.10 0.00 0.00 14.10 
			 Northamptonshire 3.00 3.00 1.00 0.00 18.00 
			 Northumbria 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.80 
			 South Wales 0.00 2.00 10.00 0.00 102.80 
			 South Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Staffordshire 0.00 2.30 0.00 0.00 17.90 
			 Suffolk 0.50 2.60 0.00 1.00 10.36 
			 Surrey 0.00 5.10 0.00 0.00 44.50 
			 Sussex 0.00 0.00 1.50 1.00 27.00 
			 Teesside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.00 
			 Thames Valley 0.00 11.00 2.00 0.00 40.40 
			 Warwickshire 0.00 1.40 0.00 0.00 6.50 
			 West Mercia 0.10 8.06 0.00 0.00 26.93 
			 West Midlands 0.00 16.40 0.00 0.00 66.67 
			 West Yorkshire 0.00 19.50 0.00 0.00 74.30 
			 Wiltshire 0.00 5.50 0.00 0.00 14.50 
			 Total 5.28 138.93 23.40 3.00 777.80

Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a Business Case has been commissioned in respect of the purchaser/provider model which has been advanced for the National Probation Service.

Paul Goggins: The detailed Business Case for the National Offender Management Service Change Programme, which is currently being prepared, will include a full explanation of any proposed purchaser/provider model.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change was in the performance of the National Probation Service against its performance measures on (a) compliance, including orders which are allowed to continue and (b) offender behaviour programmes (i) during 200304 and (ii) between April and September.

Paul Goggins: (a) Compliance. The tables set out the compliance figures achieved by the National Probation Service in 200304 and in April to September 2004.
	
		Table 1: 200304 (Percentage)
		
			 Month (a) Compliance: Orders and licences (b) Compliance: Orders only 
		
		
			 April 2003 63 56 
			 May2003 62 54 
			 June 2003 61 53 
			 July 2003 64 58 
			 August 2003 62 56 
			 September 2003 61 55 
			 October 2003 63 57 
			 November 2003 61 55 
			 December 2003 62 56 
			 January 2004 62 56 
			 February 2004 65 57 
			 March 2004 62 56 
			 Total 62 56 
		
	
	
		Table 2: 200405 (Percentage)
		
			 Month (a) Compliance: Orders and licences (b) Compliance Orders only: (c) Compliance: Orders and licences including those breached and allowed to continue (d) Compliance: Orders only including those breached and allowed to continue 
		
		
			 April 2004 63 57   
			 May 2004 66 59 79 76 
			 June 2004 67 59 80 76 
			 July 2004 67 61 79 76 
			 August 2004 64 58 78 75 
			 September 2004 64 58 79 76 
			 Total 65 59 79 76 
		
	
	Compliance was originally defined as the proportion of orders with no second unacceptable failure to comply (no third in licence cases). The results on this basis for 200304 and April-September 2004 are shown in Tables 1 and 2 for (a) orders and licences combined and (b) for orders alone. Both show that compliance has improved by three percentage points in 200405 compared to the previous year.
	Since May 2004, compliance has been measured on a wider definition that includes orders which have been allowed to continue by the courts following breach action by the NPS. Columns (c) and (d) of Table 2 show the results to the end of September. On this basis, NPS is exceeding the target of 70 per cent., having achieved 79 per cent. compliance for orders and licences combined and 76 per cent. for orders alone.
	(b) Offending Behaviour Programmes. The tables set out the number of completions of offending behaviour programmes achieved by the National Probation Service during 200304 and in April to September 2004. These are set against the monthly profiled targets (i.e. the number of completions expected at the end of each month). The data is presented cumulatively to show progress towards the annual target which was 15,000 in each year.
	
		Awards for 200304
		
			  Actual Profile Percentage 
		
		
			 April 2003 978 943 104 
			 May 2003 1,759 1,886 93 
			 June 2003 2,706 2,829 96 
			 July 2003 3,737 4,001 93 
			 August 2003 4,675 5,019 93 
			 September 2003 5,693 6,091 93 
			 October 2003 6,785 7,514 90 
			 November 2003 7,873 8,738 90 
			 December 2003 9,188 10,457 88 
			 January 2004 9,972 11,452 87 
			 February 2004 11,087 12,959 86 
			 March 2004 13,130 15,000 88 
		
	
	
		Awards for 200405
		
			  Actual Profile Percentage 
		
		
			 April 2004 852 1,250 68 
			 May 2004 1,811 2,500 72 
			 June 2004 3037 3,750 81 
			 July 2004 4443 5,000 89 
			 August 2004 5629 6,250 90 
			 September 2004 6827 7,500 91 
			 October 2004  8,750  
			 November 2004  10,000  
			 December 2004  11,250  
			 January 2005  12,500  
			 February 2005  13,750  
			 March 2005  15,000

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Probation Service met its performance measure on Enhanced Community Punishment during the period April to September; and how performance compared with the target set for that period.

Paul Goggins: The National Probation Service (NPS) has set an annual target of 30,000 Enhanced Community Punishment (ECP) completions for 200405. Between April and September 200405 the NPS achieved 17,158 ECP completions which, against a profiled target of 11,850 represents a performance against target of 148 per cent.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change was in the performance of the National Probation Service against its performance measure on drug treatment and testing order commencements between April and September.

Paul Goggins: The National Probation Service (NPS) has set an annual target of 13,000 Drug treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) for 200405. In 200304, the target was 9,000 and the NPS achieved 8,519 (just 5 per cent. short of the target). Between April and September 200405 the NPS achieved 4,847 DTTO commencements which, against a profiled target of 6,078 represents a performance against target of 80 per cent. The table shows the monthly cumulative performance against target for 200405.
	
		
			 Awards April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 
		
		
			 Actual 812 1,579 2,390 3,201 4,009 4,847 
			 Profile 926 1,856 2,861 4,003 5,017 6,078 
			 Percent 88 85 84 80 80 80 
		
	
	
		
			 Awards October 2003 November 20 03 December 20 03 January 2003 February 2004 March 2004 
		
		
			 Actual   
			 Profile 7,259 8,320 9,405 10,432 11,596 13,000 
			 Percent

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change was in the drug treatment and testing order target for the National Probation Service from 200304 to 200405.

Paul Goggins: The commencement target for Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) across the National Probation Service increased from 9,000 orders in 200304 to13,000 orders (including 1,000 of the new lower intensity variant) in 200405. In addition, a completion target for 200405 of 35 per cent. was introduced from April 2004.

Proceeds of Crime

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been recovered under civil recovery proceedings brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 since the Act came into force.

Caroline Flint: The total amount recovered by civil recovery proceedings brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is 5,309,000. I understand the Assets Recovery Agency expects to meet its target of 10 million on receipts from civil recovery in 200405.

Protection from Harassment Act

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates court prosecutions under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 resulted in (a) conviction and (b) acquittal in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003, broken down by sex.

Paul Goggins: The information contained in the table gives the number of persons, by sex, proceeded against, found guilty, acquitted at magistrates courts for offences under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales 2001 to 2003.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against, found guilty, acquitted at magistrates courts for offences under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (5507180117), England and Wales 2001 to 2003
		
			 Sex Proceeded against(5507180118) Found guilty Acquitted(5507180119) 
		
		
			 2001
			 Male 5,014 2,377 385 
			 Female 859 320 69 
			 Total 5,873 2,697 454 
			 
			 2002
			 Male 5,008 2,422 443 
			 Female 833 328 74 
			 Total 5,841 2,750 517 
			 
			 2003
			 Male 5,075 2,572 336 
			 Female 816 322 68 
			 Total 5,891 2,894 404 
		
	
	(5507180117) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(5507180118) Those defendants who were proceeded against but were neither found guilty not acquitted were either committed to the Crown court for trial or had their cases terminated early.
	(5507180119) Includes discharged and dismissed.

Rape Drugs

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are using the early evidence kits for detection of drugs that may have been used to assist a rape.

Paul Goggins: The following list shows those police forces currently purchasing the early evidence kit from Scenesafe, part of the Forensic Science Service.
	Other police forces are known to use alternative versions of the early evidence kit by buying separate urine collection and mouth swabbing kits from other suppliers. If a police force does not appear in the following list, this does not mean that they do not have the appropriate materials to collect the early evidence crucial in detecting drugs used to assist a rape.
	Avon and Somerset
	Bedfordshire
	Cambridgeshire
	Cheshire
	Cleveland
	Cumbria
	Dumfries and Galloway
	GMP
	Guernsey
	Gwent
	Hampshire
	Humberside
	Isle of Man
	Lancashire
	Lincolnshire
	Merseyside
	MPS
	MOD
	Norfolk
	North Wales
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Northumbria
	South Wales
	Staffordshire
	Suffolk
	Thames Valley
	Warwickshire
	West Mercia
	West Midlands
	Wiltshire

Reconviction

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes were made to the methodology used to calculate adult reconviction rates for the Spending Review 2002 Public Spending Agreement 5 target, compared to the methodology used for the Spending Review 2000 Public Spending Agreement 10 target.

Paul Goggins: The Spending Review 2000 Public Service Agreement (PSA) target 10 is to reduce reconviction rates for all offenders sentenced to imprisonment or to community supervision and for young offenders by 5 per cent. by 200304 compared to 1997 baselines. Both adults and young offenders are included in the measurement of progress against the all offenders element of the target, while the measure for the young offenders element covers those given pre-court disposals (cautions, reprimands and final warnings) and those sentenced to a non-custodial penalty. Young offenders starting community penalties supervised by the Probation Service were therefore included in the measurement of both elements of the target.
	The Spending Review 2002 PSA target 5 is to reduce reoffending by 5 per cent. for young offenders and for adults sentenced to imprisonment and to community sentences by 200506 compared to 2000 baselines. This represents two changes compared to the methodology adopted for SR 2000: firstly, young offenders starting community penalties or discharged from prison are not included in the measurement of the adult target, and secondly all young offenders, including those discharged from custody are included in the measurement of the young offender target.
	These changes were introduced in order to more clearly report the separate progress with young and adult offenders.

Intermittent Custody

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have reoffended following a sentence of intermittent custody.

Paul Goggins: The intermittent custody pilots have been running at two prisons since 26 January 2004. Up to 28 November, 138 intermittent custody orders had been made; only one offender has received a further sentence for an offence committed after their intermittent custody order was imposed. It is too soon to predict or to calculate reliable reconviction rates.

Intermittent Custody

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have absconded while serving a period of intermittent custody.

Paul Goggins: No prisoners have absconded while serving a period of intermittent custody. Three prisoners have failed to turn up for scheduled custody periods. Of these, two have had their sentences varied to full-time custody and one remains unlawfully at large.

Road Traffic Police Officers

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic police officers there were in 1996; and how many there are now.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Available information for 1996 to 200304 (latest available) is in the table. The information has been provided by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, whose definition of traffic officer changed in 1999.
	It should be noted that numbers alone do not adequately reflect the attention given to road policing. The adoption of an intelligence-led approach, the integration of this work with other core activities, the increased use of cameras and other technology, and the more effective use of police resources can lead to a reduction in dedicated traffic officers without a reduction in traffic-related targets or enforcement levels.
	
		Traffic officers 199697200304
		
			  Operational traffic officers Operational support traffic officers Organisational support traffic officers Total traffic officers 
		
		
			 199697 N/A N/A N/A 9201 
			 199798 N/A N/A N/A 8986 
			 199899 N/A N/A N/A 8789 
			 19992000 7929 542 19 8490 
			 200001 7589 569 39 8196 
			 200102 7330 557 34 7922 
			 200203 6221 841 376 7438 
			 200304 6276 941 419 7636 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Trafficoperationalstaff who are predominantly employed on motor-cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. This does not include officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties.
	2. Trafficoperational supportstaff who are predominantly employed to support the traffic function of the force including radar, accident investigation, vehicle examination and traffic administration. Include officers working with hazardous chemicals.
	3. Trafficorganisational supportadministrative staff predominantly serving the internal needs of the traffic function of the force.

Sentencing

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will bring forward plans to ensure the courts, when imposing a non-custodial sentence for non-violent offences, record specific reasons for that sentence and make them public;
	(2)  if he will bring forward plans to ensure that when the courts impose a short custodial sentence they state publicly why a community sentence was not identified as feasible in that case.

Paul Goggins: Section 174 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 places a duty on the court when passing sentence to state in open court, in ordinary language and in general terms, its reasons for deciding on the sentence passed. Where the Sentencing Guidelines Council has issued definitive guidelines relevant to the sentence and the court departs from them it must give reasons for doing so. In the case of a custodial sentence or a community sentence, the court must explain why it regards the offence as being sufficiently serious to warrant such a sentence.
	We aim to commence the relevant provisions in April 2005.

Sentencing

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent courts from imposing a custodial sentence following the breach of a community punishment order where the original offence did not merit imprisonment.

Paul Goggins: Within the broad statutory limits set by Parliament, sentences in individual cases are a matter for the courts alone, taking into account all the circumstances of the offence and the offender. Prison sentences should be reserved for those who are serious, dangerous or seriously persistent offenders. Equally, offenders cannot be allowed to flout the order of the court and to default on their obligations to abide by the terms of a community sentence.
	The Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, Schedule 3, contains the provisions relating to breach of community orders. Where an offender aged 18 or over and subject to a community order has failed without reasonable excuse to comply with any of the requirements of the relevant order, the magistrates court dealing with the offender must impose a sentence of imprisonment, unless either the court is of the opinion that the offender is likely to comply with the requirements of the order during the period for which it remains in force or that there are exceptional circumstances which would justify the court's not imposing such a sentence.
	If the court does not impose a sentence of imprisonment, or if the obligation to do so does not apply, it may alternatively deal with the offender by making a curfew order, a community punishment order, or an attendance centre order, or (where it has the power to do so) by revoking the order and dealing with the offender as though he had just been convicted of the offence.

Sex Offenders

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued on the advice which should be given to local schools if a sex offender deemed by police to be a danger to children absconds from an open prison.

Paul Goggins: No central guidance has been issued. Sex offenders in open conditions will have completed sex offender treatment and have been assessed as suitable to be held in open conditions. If it was judged that local schools needed to be informed about an abscond the local education authority (LEA) would be informed through the Multi Agency Protection Panel process (MAPP It would then be for the LEA to notify local schools directly.

Sex Offenders

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the weekly reports he has requested on the management of sex offenders at HMP Prescoed.

Paul Goggins: Each week I receive from the Governor of Prescoed prison a report on the number of sex offenders held there. This report includes details of the sentence each prisoner is serving, the offence and the time served, the progress the prisoner is making and the type of work the prisoner is doing. The report also includes the same details for any prisoners expected to transfer to Prescoed from Usk in the following week.
	These weekly reports enable me to monitor the arrangements for sex offenders placed at Prescoed and to ensure that those transferring to Prescoed meet the criteria which the Prison Service set, and which I endorsed, namely that life sentenced prisoners should have received a Parole Board recommendation for open conditions, and that determinate sentenced prisoners should be within one year of release.

Sexual Offences Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted under section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available.
	Information on arrests collected centrally is based on persons arrested for notifiable offences by main offence group and so does not identify individual offences.
	Information on convictions for offences under section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 only became identifiable in the statistics collected centrally in January 2004. Statistics for 2004 will be published in the autumn of 2005.

Smartcards Scheme

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been allocated to the Smartcards scheme for young persons' cultural activities; and from which budget it will come.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	Details of the new Youth Offer will be set out in the Youth Green Paper, which we expect to publish in the new year.

Spot Fines

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on the spot fines had been issued for each police area by the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The latest provisional data shows that 40,765 penalty notices for disorder have been issued by police forces in England and Wales up to 31 October 2004. Details are shown in the table.
	
		Number of penalty notices for disorder given for all offences from 1 October 2003 to 31 October 2004 by police force area, England and Wales (Provisional)
		
			 Police force area Number of PNDs given for all offences 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 243 
			 Bedfordshire 311 
			 Cambridgeshire 197 
			 Cheshire 505 
			 City of London 33 
			   
			 Cleveland 325 
			 Cumbria 329 
			 Derbyshire 383 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,218 
			 Dorset 278 
			   
			 Durham 205 
			 Essex 1,887 
			 Gloucestershire 597 
			 Greater Manchester 1,214 
			 Hampshire 1,222 
			 Hertfordshire 210 
			 Humberside 894 
			 Kent 416 
			 Lancashire 3,486 
			 Leicestershire 438 
			   
			 Lincolnshire 209 
			 Merseyside 2,639 
			 Metropolitan Police 8,423 
			 Norfolk 387 
			 North Yorkshire 493 
			   
			 Northamptonshire 334 
			 Northumbria(5507180120)  
			 Nottinghamshire 678 
			 South Yorkshire 1,046 
			 Staffordshire 1,088 
			   
			 Suffolk 298 
			 Surrey 131 
			 Sussex 941 
			 Thames Valley 352 
			 Warwickshire 275 
			   
			 West Mercia 121 
			 West Midlands 4,836 
			 West Yorkshire 2,453 
			 Wiltshire 252 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys 199 
			 Gwent 228 
			 North Wales 881 
			 South Wales 110 
			   
			 Total England and Wales 40,765 
		
	
	(5507180120) Commenced issuing penalty notices from 1 November 2004.

Staff Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 199798.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office accounts system does not capture centrally the cost of all training which is provided to its staff, especially where that training is provided either by contract staff or its own staff.
	In addition there is no central register of courses attended or their locations.
	This information cannot be provided except as a disproportionate cost.

Staff Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 199798 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office accounting system does not separately capture in its accounting system, expenditure on courses which have been cancelled.
	This information cannot be provided except as a disproportionate cost.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by his Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office uses the following 0870 numbers:
	
		
			  0870 numbers 
		
		
			 Immigration and Nationality Directorate 
			 Main 0870 606 7766 
			 Application Forms 0870 241 0645 
			 Beckett House recorded information message 0870 240 3781 
			 Complaints 0870 241 6523 
			   
			 UK Passport Service  
			 Main 0870 521 0410 
			 Textphone 0870 240 8090 
			 High street partners 0870 243 4477 
			 Complaints 0870 241 1902 
			   
			 Criminal Records Bureau  
			 Main 0870 909 0811 
			 Registration 0870 909 0822 
			 Disclosure applications 0870 909 0844 
			 Minicom 0870 909 0344 
			   
			 HM Prison Service 0870 000 1397 
			 HMP Holloway 0870 000 0575 
			   
			 Home Office  
			 Home Office Public Enquiries 0870 000 1585 
			 Home Office Publications (operated by  Prologue on behalf of the Home Office) 0870 241 4680 
			 TOGETHER (advice to practitioners on  tackling antisocial behaviour) 0870 220 2000 
			 Crime Reduction (advice on preventing car  crime) 0870 000 8518 
			 Security Industry Authority 0870 243 0100

Traffic Offences (Sentencing Policy)

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish detailed proposals to update sentencing policy for serious road traffic offences.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 increased maximum sentences for causing death by dangerous and careless driving from 10 to 14 years.
	The Government believe that the law on road traffic offences involving bad driving needs urgent reform. The announced review of road traffic offences has largely been completed but there are a number of further issues which require careful scrutiny before a consultation paper can be published. We intend to publish the consultation paper shortly.

Transsexual Prisoners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will publish guidelines on the treatment of transsexual prisoners.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service hopes to publish these guidelines by next spring.

Vehicle Disposal

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in relation to the review of the statutory charges document for vehicle removal, storage and disposal.

Caroline Flint: Charges in respect of the removal of vehicles and their subsequent storage and disposal are set by Statutory Instrument in the form of Regulations made under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Many of the operators who undertake such removals are keen to see various alterations to these Regulations. From time to time, they, their representative organisations, or others on their behalf enquire when the level of charges might be changed or whether it is proposed to review and amend the basis and structure of the charges and how they are applied.

Vehicle Disposal

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to review the statutory charges document for vehicle removal, storage and disposal; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The charges for vehicle removal, storage and disposal are set by statutory instrument following consultation with the interested parties. We do not propose to change that.
	The appropriate level for the charges, the basis on which they are set, their structure, how they are applied in different circumstances and arrangements for their periodic reassessment are matters we have been considering. We will be continuing this work in 2005.

Voluntary Sector Contracts

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the cross-cutting inter-departmental review on contracts with the voluntary sector.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Copies of the 2002 Cross Cutting Review of the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery were deposited in the Library on 1 September 2002. Full findings of the Government's recent Voluntary and Community Sector Review will be published shortly through three publications, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

Women Offenders

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to produce regular reports on the progress of the Home Office's Women Offenders Reduction Programme initiative.

Paul Goggins: The Women's Offending Reduction Programme was published on 11 March 2004 and contains action points agreed by a range of stakeholders, both within and outside the criminal justice system. Progress with these action points is monitored and co-ordinated by the Women's Policy Team who provide me with six monthly reports. Formal reviews of progress will take place at the end of each year of the programme when a report will be produced and made publicly available.

Young Offenders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made towards the Government's 2001 manifesto pledge to improve the standard of custodial accommodation and offending behaviour programmes for 18 to 20-year-old offenders.

Paul Goggins: The Government have invested heavily in improved regimes for all prisoners, concentrating on activities such as education and vocational training which are particularly valuable for young adults. Funding for offender education and training has risen from 97 million last year to 122 million this year.
	Five larger Young Offender Institutions and five local prisons have received an additional 20 million investment over the last four years, improving standards of decency and providing enhanced regimes for over one third of young adult offenders held in custody at any one time. Other improvements include the refurbishment of accommodation and facilities at Rochester, Castington and Swinfen Hall.
	Two other Young Offender Institutions, Thorn Cross and Deerbolt, have received extra investment to run the High Intensity Training programme which addresses offending behaviour and provides education, vocational training and mentoring to reduce the risk of re-offending.
	The National Offender Management Service will improve the way offenders are managed, including young adults. In addition, a project board has been established to develop a strategy for managing young adult offenders, including any special regime requirements for this group.

Young Offenders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are in place to ensure the detention of young offenders within 50 miles of their homes.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 December 2004
	There are no guidelines in relation to the distance that young adult offenders (aged 1820 years) are held from their home address.
	In its management of the prison population, the National Offender Management Service aims to hold all prisoners (including young adult offenders) in establishments that provide the degree of security they require, are suitable to their gender, age and legal status, provide special facilities appropriate to prisoner needs and are near to their homes or the courts dealing with their cases.
	The Youth Justice Board's guidance for young offenders (aged under 18) is that the most local placement will be sought which is also consistent with the other needs of the young person.

Young Offenders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance is provided to family members of young offenders detained more than 50 miles from their homes to enable them to make regular visits.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 December 2004
	Assistance is provided through the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme, which is funded and operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. The purpose of the scheme is to provide help with travel costs and accommodation, where necessary, to prisoners' close relatives and partners, who are on a low income as specified in the rules of the scheme. Help may also be available to someone who is the prisoner's only visitor.

Zimbabwe

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis the decision to end the suspension of removals for failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe was taken; and whether this represents a change in the Government's assessment of the human rights situation in that country.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on 16 November 2004, Official Report, column 78WS, announcing the end of the temporary suspension of enforced removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. That statement explains the reason for the change in policy and stresses the fact that it does not reflect any change in the Government's condemnation of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.